Yes, this is the big unknown at the moment. Governments and central banks will certainly attempt to prevent contagion by buying assets and handing out bailout

Yes, this is the big unknown at the moment. Governments and central banks will certainly attempt to prevent contagion by buying assets and handing out bailout cash. Does that fix the problem and then we go back to normal? Does it result in Weimar-style hyperinflation? Does it cause negative rates on long-term bonds? I can only think of two historical precedents for guidance on how this might play out. First, Japan's "Lost Decade" (which was really more like 25 years). And second, the 2008 financial collapse. Not sure either of these are directly comparable to the current predicament, though.