Just giving out cash isn't going to fix the problem. It is however one required part of the solution to prevent the situation from spiraling as hard as it otherwise would.
The crux of the issue is that economic activity is severely hampered due to the paralyzing fear of the coronavirus. Even if the government pays out benefits as though everyone remained employed as they were a few months ago, that's not truly economically productive activity. It's an economically-neutral but socially-positive action.
Economic value is generated when people exchange goods (in a better example to reflect modern life, money for goods and vice versa) such that every party is better off. Shuttered businesses prevent this value generation. I live in NYC and most non-food/beverage stores are closed.
The crux of the issue is that economic activity is severely hampered due to the paralyzing fear of the coronavirus. Even if the government pays out benefits as though everyone remained employed as they were a few months ago, that's not truly economically productive activity. It's an economically-neutral but socially-positive action.
Economic value is generated when people exchange goods (in a better example to reflect modern life, money for goods and vice versa) such that every party is better off. Shuttered businesses prevent this value generation. I live in NYC and most non-food/beverage stores are closed.