I don't understand the relationship to the pandemic
Did they begin this with no story in mind?
Seems like they just planned to go to USA had have some low-hanging-fruit hijinks with hillbillies and Trump supporters.
They're at a rally with Pence in february before Covid was "big" news. At that point, the pandemic couldn't have been part of the story.
Then it seems they get caught in the South around mid March when the quarantine started, but decided "f*ck it, we'll film anyway with these rednecks/redneck actors in their house." Then somehow they still get to go outside and there are rallies during the pandemic???
Then what? They wait a few months, write the pandemic into the story, and continue in the summer when people were more relaxed? (But by then people were wearing masks... yet they aren't in the scenes very much?)