When I spoke with my broker last month (yes I have a broker) I was telling him that I expected 30% unemployment by the time this was over. He said "30 million people unemployed? If that's right we are screwed. I doubt it." Well, I called it.
I guess this is something we are going have to face. We are fucked. The economy is not coming back anytime soon even if they open everything tomorrow, and if they do then lots of people will die. But they can't open tomorrow. Heck, they can't even keep the meat packing plants open, and it is getting worse in the meat supply chain. The good news is that the overall supply chain is fine, so if you can't get chicken then just get waffles.
There is more good news. Researchers at the University of California have found some promising compounds for COVID-19 treatment, Remdesivir looks like it will work in slowing down the virus, and free testing is coming soon to a CVS near you. (Here's some Rite Aid locations that already have test.) So in the end it won't be the virus that dooms us all. It will be how people react to it.
This is the thing that really keeps me up at night. Can we keep it together as a nation? Like today, the Governor of Maryland admitted that he's hiding supplies so the FEMA doesn't get its hands on it. Meanwhile Michigan decided to lose its mind with the Governor sidestepping the legislature to keep the lock-down in place, while the Ruff Tuff Creampuff brigade brought out the guns to make sure they get what they want no matter that everyone else doesn't want it. I mean, Jesus Christ...
How do you think these apocalypse cos-players will act once they learn that job they had last month is gone forever? Maybe the upcoming expansion on the war on drugs will give them something to distract them. Maybe what they need is a nice relaxing Florida vacation.