You seem to have missed this part: “Experts warn that deaths from secondary impacts — poverty, hunger, diseases, and violence exacerbated by the pandemic — may dwarf the number of those who die of the novel coronavirus itself.”
That has nothing to do with listening to the scientists, wearing a mask, social distancing, and staying home as much as possible. It does have all to do with COVID-19 making workers sick, causing them to be unable to work. There is where the secondary impacts lay- with workers getting sick. IF they wear masks properly, social distance, etc they might be able to continue to work, in which to feed the masses. BUT if they ignore the scientists and do not wear a mask properly, social distance, etc then yes, they will face poverty, due to getting sick. They will also face death too. Their families will be hungry. etc etc While all you said about the secondary impacts maybe true, it doesn’t mean humans should forgo listening to the scientists, wearing masks properly, social distancing, staying home as a much as possible, because to do the opposite, is to make the secondary impacts come true for sure.