Me: "Have an emergency fund."

Thanks, y'all. I'm sure the part of the country that is living on below median incomes all have massive sums of money in the bank. The reason being off-work for an extended time period due to # / # could be financially crushing is because they'll lack income, but bills will continue.

(This is CNBC, which has lots of financial coverage, so perhaps its audience consists almost entirely of people who make enough money to have such large emergency funds.)
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11:50 am: For some, missing work could be financially 'crushing'

As fears about the coronavirus mount, so do concerns about possible quarantines, office closures, and school shutdowns. If you get paid time off from your employer or you can work from home, you shouldn't have much of a financial issue unless you use up all of your days. If you are sick, you could apply for short-term disability if you are out long enough. Some employers may already have an emergency leave policy, especially if they are used to dealing with things like snowstorms and hurricanes, said Rich Fuerstenberg, a senior partner at the consulting firm Mercer. Check with your employer, since that policy isn't a guarantee. The most important thing is to have an emergency fund so that you can help cover your expenses for the next month or so, especially if you aren't going to be getting paid. —Fox
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/09/coronavirus-latest-updates.html