There are no definitive instructions for what information, precisely, applicants should enter, beyond that specifically stated in the form and instructions. Applicants should provide their best account of the information requested, as best the applicant understands what is asked and what a complete and honest answer is based on their personal facts.
That is, the answer to the question "how should an applicant answer . . . " is general, in that the applicant should provide his or her own HONEST answer as best he or she understands things.
The work history is not a test.
Among various ways to approach it . . . and yes, the ways this can be answered that are OK do vary . . . one could make a separate row in the chart for the period of time beginning when work was suspended, a row specifying the period of suspended work from what month to what month, identifying the employer still and such but entering something like "work suspended covid" (this should fit, but space is limited) in the occupation column.
Main thing is to leave no months uncovered. And to otherwise honestly report the primary nature of one's activity for each month, including relevant name and location information.
There are NO demerits for being unemployed, for example. IRCC just wants an honest picture of who the applicant is, the life the applicant has been living, with enough detail to identify when and where, and if deemed necessary (which usually it is not but sometimes is) information which can be verified in contacting relevant sources.
