Since most tech workers can work remote, people like DHH, and the Base Camp boys [0] spew their ignorance about other industries and encourage a 'shut down' since it won't affect their business, or their day-to-day work.
Lives are at stake from people losing their livelihood as well though, you need to weigh up the effects of the virus vs basically shutting down the economy.
Of course if half of Americans didn't deride any sort of safety net as communism the situation might be less uncertain.
[0] https://twitter.com/jasonfried/status/1240818423795515393