The calculation seems to be that it would cost more to the state to have these companies fail or fire most of their employees, have them apply for unemployment,

The calculation seems to be that it would cost more to the state to have these companies fail or fire most of their employees, have them apply for unemployment, and wait for new companies to emerge/rehire when the tide comes back. By "cost more" I mean not just in sheer money, but also counting the overall impact on the population.