Abba_s – I am not commenting on the issue of people needing to work. This is a real problem that has to be balanced between the cost to life here (some businesses are essential to life, such as people in food and medicine). Mitt Romney today suggested giving every adult in the US $1,000. Might not be enough for a Jewish family contemplating Pesach (people facing financial uncertainty here need to find ways to cut costs NOW… as we have no way of knowing how long till things return to some normalcy) but will help people put food on their table for a bit.
All I am pointing out is that every additional transmission of this diseases adds to the burden on our medical system which is very likely going to fail in short order. I pray and hope that it does not come to this but without question if this thing is not stopped we will be there. Hence, to the extent any one of us can avoid being in a situation where they contribute to the spread of this, they are saving lives. Unfortunately, it is hard for me to contemplate right now, where sufficient testing is not in place, how our shuls can still be open without strict social distancing enforced (at least social distancing can slow this, however given the levels this may be at already, that might not be enough and I think the proper action is to close them). Shuls, Churches, Mosques, and other places where people are in close contact and moving around are definite hot spots for this thing to spread. When you walk into a shul, that does not have proper distancing (if that is even sufficient) you are contributing definitely to this epidemic. Much like you can’t daven in middle of Ocean Pky and hope your tefillos will protect you there, I don’t think you can rely on your teffilos to stop what is a definite that your very action of congregating together is contributing to.
I would point out further that we as a community in the coming days may find out that between Purim and this past shabbos this thing has spread far wider in our community than we realize. I fear that in two weeks people will be saying or thinking like the folks in Italy are saying now, if only we took this more seriously sooner.
Hashem Yishmar.