Past Star Trek shows have tackled quarantine episodes before, so it’s not exactly a complete impossibility, though Stewart’s thoughts on the sensitivity of the subject remain valid in either case.
If a lot of life is lost by the end of this pandemic, then it definitely feels like there’s a “too soon” factor all shows must consider when covering this event.
The COVID-19 pandemic is the kind of massive event one would expect a show like Star Trek: Picard to make reference to, so it’ll be interesting to see whether Patrick Stewart softens his stance once he and the show’s crew gather back in the writers’ room for Season 2.