COVID-19-Related Deaths and Economic Impact of Closures

As we all know, one of the measures taken in the previous periods against the COVID-19 virus, which affected the whole world, they were closing. There were times when we could not go out for days or even weeks in our country, as in the whole world, due to the closures made in order for the virus, which spreads faster in crowded environments, to affect fewer people.

However, a new study by John Hopkins University in the USA has shown that the impact of these closures during the COVID-19 pandemic is greater than expected. quite different revealed that. The effects of the closures, which were first implemented in the spring of 2020, on the mortality rates due to COVID-19 in the USA, the UK and other European countries. “very little or nothing” In the study, in which it was stated that the economic and sociological effects of the restrictions were quite ‘devastating’ It was suggested that it was.

Non-COVID-19 deaths allegedly increased due to full closures

According to the results obtained from the data obtained in the study, in which 24 different global studies were examined, the effect of restrictions such as closures, mandatory masks and social distance on COVID-19 deaths is only 10%. 0.2 it happened.

In addition, deaths from border closures are plain percent. 0.1 In the study, in which it was stated that the most effective restriction applied, the percentage of death rates 10.6 the closure of stores in the fall; The impact of school closures on death rates 4.4 was recorded.

There are those who think otherwise:

On the other hand, those who oppose the research; He argued that before the development of vaccines and antiviral treatments, closures played an important role in curbing the transmission of COVID-19 and reducing the number of hospital admissions and deaths. However, due to those whose condition deteriorated due to their inability to access health services during the pandemic, full closures could lead to COVID-19. unrelated deathsThere is also a growing consensus that it causes an increase in

In the latest research, it is seen that the quarantines applied may have worse undesirable results than thought, and accordingly, isolating people at home can also affect other family members at home. in danger reported to cause serious illness. According to the researchers, the closure of retail businesses is a person in ‘essential’ stores where the risk of contamination is higher. to the density caused.

“Strict methods undermine liberal democracy”

Stating that the different COVID-19 death rates in the countries are not related to the total closures, the researchers said that the reason behind this difference is the differences in the age and health of the population and the health sector of the country. quality noted that it might.

On the other hand, researchers have “to enormous economic and social costs” that they have no basis and that they should be applied as a pandemic policy tool in the future. ‘rejection’ conveyed the need.

Steve Hanke, the founder of the John Hopkins School of Applied Economics, who led the research, outspokenly criticized the damage the restrictions had done to the economy during the epidemic and said that these orders “fascist” had stated that. In addition, researchers who draw attention to the devastating economic and sociological effects of restrictions, “Quarantines have reduced economic activity, increased unemployment, hindered educational activity, led to political unrest and increased domestic violence. Strict measures liberal democracy undermined” used the phrases.