During the "flatten the curve lockdown" we deemed, on average, 70% of the work force essential workers. Thus a very soft lockdown. What we need now is to follow New Zealand’s lead, and do a very hard lockdown. Lockdown 75% of all work. For 4 weeks, or until we're at less than 1 new case per 100,000, per 7 day period. That's how we get ahead. We need to financially support those workers.
Anything else. In the long run. Will cost more in lives, and money.
So how do we pay for a 75% lockdown?
If you realize that from February to October the personal savings rate soared to over 25% from year to date. So with low interest rates, we could as a nation have borrowed enough money to pay every worker, and every small, and medium sized-business, to get through a 4 week hard lockdown.
There is enough money right now in savings accounts to do this.