Planning for a gap year (in this environment)looks very much like applying as a hs senior. Just apply as a senior, this Fall, and see where the chips land. Then decide if a gap year is the right choice. What would someone have to lose by applying this year?
I personally think the hs juniors are in a good position for college admission and it is the hs seniors I feel very sorry for. Ambitious students aren’t going to just ‘sit back’ because the world changed (hopefully only temporarily). They are going to drive forward head-on into the new world.