While I'm generally pretty receptive to the idea of a UBI, it is wholly incomprehensible implementing one would be "easier" or "cheaper" than directly addressing COVID-related wage loss.
Additionally, something as pivotal as a UBI is exactly the kind of thing that you _wouldn't_ want to implement as a reaction to a temporary crisis. You're likely to create the wrong abstraction based on contingencies of the situation.
Dude. This is to make up for the economy being shut down. i.e. no trade happening, no revenues. How are you going to finance UBI in those condition? No economy = no one paying for UBI. This is going to be financed by borrowing.
And, even though it's an employer subsidy, this is more beneficial in the long run if the economy recovers, because employers don't have to go through the fire/hire destruction and deadweight loss.
Additionally, something as pivotal as a UBI is exactly the kind of thing that you _wouldn't_ want to implement as a reaction to a temporary crisis. You're likely to create the wrong abstraction based on contingencies of the situation.