If you got a virus and could take some time to rest then it probably wouldn’t be an issue. But I think we’re worried about viral recovery times because it affects GDP figures.
After I have a virus I like to go slow, but I’m not allowed because I have to keep up with my job.
I've had friends who suffered CFS (known as ME here in the UK for a time) while students or shortly after finishing high school, and they did literally nothing for years with thankfully parental safety nets without recovering. I don't even recall what eventually happened unfortunately - we're talking early 1990s.
Especially if we're talking about America, where companies literally try to fire you if you're sick or using up too much health care because of their bottom line. It doesn't even matter if it's illegal because unless they get caught there are no consequences and even if they do get caught, the consequences are often times so pathetic that it's worth taking the hit because the savings exceed the punishment.
Their comment in no way implies that