Well you also can’t eat money. So at a certain point there just will not be any stuff to buy if the shutdown continues and people just get checks in the mail. That is magical thinking.
There is a reachable middle ground between "everyone stays home all the time" and "everyone goes back to work, consequences be damned." It requires close coordination between governments, widely available testing with quick turnarounds, and a mutual understanding that this is a serious situation and we all need to contribute by doing things like wearing a mask, being mindful of personal hygiene, and accommodating those who need space.
The real unknown is whether we have the political and social will to get there.
The real unknown is whether we have the political and social will to get there.