I'm calling BS on this one!

I work with the "internet" everyday and can tell you that even during PEAK traffic times, we're not even close to
capacity. I would think that tons of people home, in bed, ill - would result in even less traffic.
On antoher note, even if they shut down all of the root servers, you cannot shut off the "internet". You can shut down the ISPs, the Proxies etc...
but people will still be able to utilize the network. You will have to be very technical to do so, but it can be done.
Nope, if the internet shuts down it is because they want complete information blackout. My advice, if the internet shuts down then you had better be
prepared for the house to house round-ups.