That's subject to interpretation. Certainly the intent was not to circumvent the rules. But, my opinion is the time proximity says you don't qualify.
The final regulations include a presumption that an individual who was previously treated as an employee and is subsequently treated as an independent contractor while performing substantially the same services for the same employer or a related person will be presumed to still be in the trade or business of performing services as an employee for purposes of Sec. 199A. The final regulations were modified to include a three-year lookback rule for this presumption. The individual can rebut the presumption by showing records that corroborate the individual’s status as a nonemployee, such as contracts or partnership agreements, that are sufficient to corroborate the individual's status as a non-employee .
Reference: https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2019/jan/sec-199a-qbi-deduction-201920483.html
I take that to mean, if you claim it, be prepared to prove you qualify. But, that's true about any thing you claim in taxes.
This reference says "the final regulations contain an additional example demonstrating the application of the presumption for the situation in which an employee has materially modified his relationship with his employer such that the employee can successfully rebut the presumption". But I couldn't find a actual copy of the final reg.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/02/08/2019-01025/qualified-business-income-deduction
