Your 401k is your retirement plan. It should be viewed in no other way. Resist the temptation to make any early withdrawls or loans. If you are strapped for cash lower your contribution temporarily, but not below that needed to receive your employer match if possible.
Yes, the CARES Act changed laws to allow hardship distributions from qualified retirement accounts like 401ks for coronavirus-related purposes of up to $100,000 for those under 59½, without incurring the standard 10% early withdrawal penalty. The limit on 401k loans for “qualified individuals” increased from 50% of a participant’s vested account balance up to $50,000 to now 100% of the participant’s vested account balance up to $100,000. And many recordkeepers have waived fees on hardship withdrawals and loans from their 401ks.
Source: Good Reasons Not to Raid that 401k – 401K Specialist
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