[graeme]

One counterpoint: there are now a bunch of unemployed people. The govt is planning to give them much aid.

This implies that paid labour is basically free for governments at the moment. They can either pay people jobless claims, or hire people for the new work that needs doing.

Volunteers are also a great idea! But I want to emphasize that governments shouldn't shy away from projects now if the labour costs money. Because they're currently about to pay people to not labour. So any outlay in salary is a savings on unemployment claims.