If memory serves, in the early days of the pandemic, epidemiologists were concerned that surface contact could be a significant factor in spreading the coronavirus, and such precautions were, if not universally recommended, at least were classified as “not a bad idea.”
But, further research has told us that such transmission appears to be pretty rare, meaning that those sorts of precautions are likely unnecessary – but some people may not have gotten that message, or they don’t feel comfortable in stopping.