Not that we haven’t said the same here on this blog way long ago. Because I did, way back in May 2020.
I did an early data analysis showing that there was no statistically significant correlation between lockdowns (aka “Non Pharmaceutical Interventions”) and lower death rates, around the world. There are rises and falls in Covid (the “waves”), but they don’t rise and fall in consequence of more or less lockdown. The virus has its rhythm.
That has remained the case, up until today, throughout the world. But that information -- that *science* -- was never widely shared.
Until now. With Johns Hopkins.
But I wonder. How much notice will governments take, if any, to this information? To this Science. When they seem to just love to turn on the restrictions. Here in Hong Kong, at least. And in certain States in the US. Even if not in England (but not the UK) and in Denmark, where they have just done away with ALL Covid restrictions.
Will the MSM report this? I doubt it. Let’s see. I’ll be watching BBC, ABC, MSNBC, DW, CNA and CNN tonight. Fox too. I’m expecting that if any of those report this news, it’ll be Fox.
/Snip: Lockdowns in the U.S. and Europe had little or no impact in reducing deaths from COVID-19, said researchers at Johns Hopkins University.
They said the lockdowns during the early phase of the pandemic in 2020 reduced COVID-19 mortality by about 0.2%,
However, the researchers said they found no evidence that lockdowns, school closures, border closures, and limiting gatherings have had a noticeable effect on COVID-19 mortalityLockdowns are defined as the imposition of at least one compulsory, non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI).
NPIs are any government mandate that directly restrict peoples’ possibilities, such as policies that limit internal movement, close schools and businesses, and ban international travel.
In the study titled “A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Lockdowns on COVID-19 Mortality” released Monday (Jan 31), the researchers said the lockdowns did have “devastating effects” on the economy and contributed to numerous social ills.
“They have contributed to reducing economic activity, raising unemployment, reducing schooling, causing political unrest, contributing to domestic violence, and undermining liberal democracy,” they said.
The paper said data on total deaths in a country is far more precise than data on COVID-19 related deaths, which may be both underreported (due to lack of tests) or overreported (because some people die with – but not because of – COVID-19).
