> can millions of Americans be helped by restarting the economy?
That's already happening. The current slow reopening is restarting the economy in order to help millions of Americans get back to work. For example, the jewelry store in my neighborhood in CA is now open, but for 1 customer at a time (OK in their case because even before the pandemic they controlled the number of people inside). However, the breakfast diner nearby with closely packed tables is still shut down. Even if they could open, the owner has to figure out how to run that business with appropriate social distancing.
An additional problem is that the economy was fragile even before the lockdown. Many employers likely won't rehire nearly as many people as they let go. Those who are still hiring have slowed down their hiring rate.
And until people feel safe consuming services and gathering in public like they did before, the main street economy can't recover fast enough to employ everyone who was laid off during the lockdown.
This is why government support for laid off workers must continue until enough confidence exists that things are safe, even without the lockdowns, and that might take years for some sectors of the economy.
That's already happening. The current slow reopening is restarting the economy in order to help millions of Americans get back to work. For example, the jewelry store in my neighborhood in CA is now open, but for 1 customer at a time (OK in their case because even before the pandemic they controlled the number of people inside). However, the breakfast diner nearby with closely packed tables is still shut down. Even if they could open, the owner has to figure out how to run that business with appropriate social distancing.
An additional problem is that the economy was fragile even before the lockdown. Many employers likely won't rehire nearly as many people as they let go. Those who are still hiring have slowed down their hiring rate.
And until people feel safe consuming services and gathering in public like they did before, the main street economy can't recover fast enough to employ everyone who was laid off during the lockdown.
This is why government support for laid off workers must continue until enough confidence exists that things are safe, even without the lockdowns, and that might take years for some sectors of the economy.