I totally agree with you.

Deliberately coughing and spitting on people has never been acceptable (and it shouldn't be acceptable), and has always been considered assault.

Which has always been an arrestable crime.

That man you're talking about sounds like he deserved to get arrested.

Now getting arrested just for coughing and sneezing, on the other hand, is absolutely ridiculous and flat out tyranny

People should not stand for that at all, and should definitely push back against such insanity.