First: the longest COVID lasts with in a person is 6 weeks, generally 2 weeks (https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf#:~:text=Using%20available%20preliminary%20data%2C,severe%20or%20critical%20disease).

Second, COVID lasts a max of a few hours on most surfaces (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprepare%2Fcleaning-disinfection.html)

So, if everyone simultaneously stayed home, 6 weeks because those with COVID would not spread it and would fight it off, and surfaces would die off. Maybe not flawlessly but significantly gone.

Secondly, IMO, we have seen many examples of what could have been done from our government to keep the lights on and get food to people. For example the South Korean government delivered food kits to all its citizens, removing the need for them to leave for groceries. Grocery shopping here definitely creates opportunity for people to get infected. Another example would be Italy suspending mortgages and loans, severely reducing costs to the people.

And yeah I agree. Politicians and picking really poor compromises.