The authoritarian lockdowns that crippled our economy and trampled on our civil liberties had ‘little to no effect’ on mortality rates during the height of the pandemic, a new John Hopkins University study found. The meta-analysis of 24 different studies found that lockdown measures such as limiting gatherings and school closures only reduced mortality by 0.2%, despite the measures enormous social and economic costs. The only measure found to be somewhat effective was closing nonessential businesses, which reduced mortality by about 10%. The Daily Mail Reports–
“The original coronavirus lockdowns had ‘little to no’ effect on pandemic death tolls in the US, UK and Europe, a controversial report suggests.
Economists who carried out a meta-analysis estimated that draconian restrictions first imposed in spring 2020 — including stay-at-home orders, compulsory masks and social distancing — only reduced Covid mortality by 0.2 per cent.
They warned that lockdowns caused ‘enormous economic and social costs’ and concluded they were ‘ill-founded and should be rejected as a pandemic policy instrument’ going forward.
The review, led by a Johns Hopkins University professor, argued that border closures had virtually zero effect on Covid mortality, reducing deaths by just 0.1 per cent.
However, the researchers estimated closing nonessential shops was the most effective intervention, leading to a 10.6 per cent drop in virus fatalities.
Their report, which has not been peer-reviewed, said that this was probably due to shutting pubs and restaurants where alcohol is consumed. School closures were linked to a smaller 4.4 per cent decrease.
The researchers originally identified 18,590 global studies into lockdowns, which they claim had to be whittled down to just 24 to answer their research question.”
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