Government intervention intensifies: Attack (the virus). Survive (the economic fallout).

It's a two-way street.... Both directions are critical to America's coronavirus-fighting situation, but they run opposite each other. The Health Effort includes economic lockdowns and social distancing, but also redirecting certain sectors of the economy to support healthcare workers. The Economic Effort alleviates biz-killing side effects of the Health Effort. Last week, the US gov intervened big to support both sides:

• The Health Effort: Corporations like 3M, Ford, and GE already mobilized to fill the massive ventilator and mask/respirator shortage that endangers healthcare workers. Then on Friday, the White House finally invoked the Defense Production Act — a wartime measure letting Presidents order private biz to produce stuff in short supply.
• President Trump is forcing General Motors to manufacture ventilators. Many more invocations of the DPA will likely be necessary to effectively tackle this virus with the weapons we need.
• The Econ Effort: Social distancing and stay-at-home orders literally shut down businesses — so the 3.3M Americans who filed for unemployment in just one week was shocking, but not a surprise.
• In response, Congress passed $2T of government spending into law. The bill includes direct payments to around 90% of Americans, beefed up unemployment benefits, and huge amounts of loans/grants for large/small biz. Plus, $100B for hospitals and $150B for state/city governments to keep handling the crisis.