I'm not sure what you mean by "get protected." If you qualify for and take a Coronavirus-Related Distribution, although you won't owe any early-distribution penalty, it will be taxable either all in 2020 or in equal parts in 2020, 2021 and 2020, your choice, until you put some or all of it back. When you put some or all of it back, it will first reduce the amount that would otherwise be taxable in the year you put it back and any amount put back beyond that would be used to reduce the taxable amounts reported on previous years' tax returns by amending those previous years' tax returns to obtain a refund.