It’s interesting because you would intuitively think this, but there is actually not terrible evidence linking periods of economic growth to increased mortality.
Here is the article in nature.
Is non-profit funding really that inelastic in depression?
I don’t think this decision is up to the public health officials. Indeed, you can read an interview with Fauci where he is making this exact point and saying that he has asked, and asked, and asked, for social distancing to be observed at press conferences.