Just curious, are you suggesting that all businesses shut down for 12-18 months, which is the estimated time for a vaccine to be available? I don’t personally know anyone who can go that long without a paycheck. Perhaps people are more affluent where you live, but most people I know don’t earn enough to have any significant savings and I know people in various parts of the country. I could possibly make it if I cash in my retirement, but I wouldn’t have enough time to rebuild it before I need it, since it’s lost a lot of value over the last week. I was just getting back to where I was after the last recession . . .
I could see a few months, but even that will be a stretch when most of a person’s unemployment check has to go for insurance premiums in case they get sick. Our unemployment is only six months anyway. After that, it’s just slow starvation. Is the virus worse than starvation? I am not sure. People are already fighting in the stores. What happens when they really get desperate? We need a balance somehow.
To be clear, I am not advocating that the theme parks open in a month. I think two or perhaps three months would be sufficient if people will just take this seriously and stay home unless your job is vital for the community. This is not the time to plan a party or hang out with your friends in person. The more people ignore common sense, the longer this is going to take.