Yes, it would be over in a few months.
It would take generations to recover. If really ever.
Think Rome’s collapse. But in a month or two, not several generations.
How long before we had municipal water supplies again? nearly 2000 years...
Ditto decent roads.
How many of the 40 somethings would die also? Probably lots. They survive now because we HAVE ventilators for them and they’re young enough to recover IF they have a ventilator. Without vents they’d die just like the 70yr olds.
The 40-60yr olds are the biggest taxpaying demographic there is. If 5%-10% of them are dead or so ill long term they can’t return to productivity what does that do to our economy all by itself?
“What if” proof of bioweapon use was released, and the US was put on a war footing as in WWII. Declare China as our enemy. Cold War on steroids- avoid hot war if possible.
Chinese interests in the US nationalized, instant decoupling. Refuse entry to all Chinese goods. Manufacturing economy, not service.
Realign the world economy, and send China back to the 60’s.
There are lots of ways to look at the future, let’s pray for the best.