There is an obvious and compelling public health interest in taking steps to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic. But the excessive rush to close down the economy’s service sector isn’t just a mistake — it’s one that will ruin lives.
We need to recognize that the public health concern of the coronavirus isn’t the only concern here. Yes, with an apparent U.S. mortality rate of between 0.1% and 1%, the coronavirus is serious. But so too must we be attentive to the plight of tens of millions of service sector employees. They have to make rent, or they’ll have to move in with others. Or go homeless.
This is serious, folks.
Yet too few seem to recognize it. Supporters of the total shutdown approach don’t seem to realize that the service industry is one of inherent unpredictability and, for most workers, relatively low wages. That means living paycheck to paycheck. It means the necessity of earning tips either in high marginal value, or high customer scale.
Some suggest these concerns are mitigated by decisions such as that of New York City’s not-so-great mayor, Bill de Blasio, to shutter bars and restaurants but allow them to accept takeout and delivery orders. It isn’t so. People go to bars and restaurants because they want to eat and drink in proximity to other people. Most people are unlikely to use bars and restaurants simply for takeout and delivery, so these businesses are essentially being shut down regardless. A restaurant owner cannot maintain stock, staffing, and general operations in a condition of greatly reduced custom.
Another challenge is that many of those in the service industry tend to be casual workers who are employed at more than one bar or restaurant. This complicates the idea that we can mitigate the economic effects of the coronavirus by providing these workers with early Social Security benefits.
A better option here would be to encourage those who work alongside demographic groups particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, to avoid bars, restaurants, and friends who are remaining out and about. Indeed, these individuals should probably be ordering their groceries for delivery rather than going to the store.
However, for otherwise healthy individuals the best balance for economic activity and public health is to use bars and restaurants in a way that mitigates the risk of contagion. Washington, D.C. is leading the charge here, allowing these establishments to remain open while requiring them to suspend bar seating, separating tables by at least six feet, and limiting party sizes. If, as we must assume, patrons and service employees are taking extreme precautions to wash hands and avoid proximity inside each establishment, this approach would seem to offer some protection against public health concerns.
We don’t know how long this crisis will last. But even if it lasts just a few weeks, the costs of a total shutdown are likely to ruin or seriously damage the lives of millions of our fellow citizens. We must protect their interests as well as those particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus.
