COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Policies Resulted in Excess Deaths: Study

The Epoch Times Header

Public health officialsโ€™ efforts to protect citizens from COVID-19 infection and avert death may have backfired, a new study published in Health Economics suggests. Whatโ€™s more, the efforts could be linked to excess deaths.

Mandatory masking and social distancing became everyday directives for millions worldwide when the COVID-19 virus exploded onto the scene in 2020. Shelter-in-place (SIP) or stay-at-home orders quickly followed despite evidence supporting the protocol remaining mixed.

Now, a cross-collaborative team of scientists from California, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts is expressing confidence based on results from rigorous research examining whether stay-at-home orders may not have been as effective as health officials initially hoped. In fact, they may have resulted in both short- and long-term health consequences.

SIP Policies Did Not Reduce Excess Deaths

After examining SIP protocols from dozens of countries, researchers determined that restricting people from leaving their homes did not reduce excess mortality. The protocols may have also contributed to excess โ€œdeaths of despairโ€ unrelated to the virus but to social and economic isolation effects.

To measure policy impacts, researchers took a deep dive into data using the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker. The resource allowed them to extract daily information at both country and U.S. state levels, but they averaged the data to create a weekly value before and after restrictions were put in place.

Specifically, the researchers looked at data from 43 countries and all 50 U.S. states and examined weekly death rates leading up to the restrictions for the years 2015โ€“2019. They then compared these to weekly rates in 2020 after community mitigation strategies were implemented for 25 weeks. Data were assessed with the first data point marked by the first COVID-19 death in each region. Researchers also looked at how long it took states and countries to implement restrictions after the first death.

Deaths due to COVID-19 and all other unrelated causes of death were calculated usingย incidence rates for both the U.S. states and the 43 countries and compared to regions that did not enforce stay-at-home orders.

By Mary Gillis

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

Viewers like you

There is no constitutional authority for any spending on public broadcasting โ€“ period. Any questions: See Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

Trans-wormal

No worm ever said "I am anthropomorphizing, I am a butterfly" to a toad or flock of geese and expected acknowledgement and support.

In Greenlandโ€™s Icy Capital, Past Troubles Haunt Hopes for the Future

As geopolitical realities and ongoing economic growth raise the stakes, U.S. interest in Greenland and the dream of independence may change things in a big way.

How a Chinese Government Statistician Was Forced to Report Fake Data

Chinese local govt employee produced a non-authorized report on bees and was visited by police and threatened with being sent to a mental hospital.

โ€˜This One Time, at Groomer Campโ€™

All Camp Brave Trails programs focus on helping LGBTQ+ youth find what they need most to thrive: their people, their place, and their passion.

News

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returning to US to Face Criminal Charges

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador, is on his way back to the US, where he will face criminal charges for allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants.

White House Adviser Gives Update on DOGEโ€™s Future Amid Muskโ€“Trump Spat

A top White House adviser said DOGEโ€™s work will likely continue amid a spat between its former chief, Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump.

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Dismantling of Education Department

Trump admin asked Supreme Court to allow it to resume dismantling U.S. Dept of Education, following a lower courtโ€™s previous order halting process.

FTC Warns of Rising Student Loan Scams, Says Fraudsters Took Millions From Borrowers

FTC is warning borrowers to steer clear of student loan debt-relief scams, after shutting down group of companies that allegedly charged millions in illegal fees and left customers worse off.

Walmartโ€™s Drone Delivery Coming to 5 More US Cities

Walmart is set to launch its drone delivery service in five more U.S. cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa, the company.

Court Orders Trump Administration to Restore AmeriCorps Funding to States

Federal court ordered Trump admin to restore AmeriCorps funding to states. The ruling comes as part of a lawsuit filed by 24 states and DC.

Tax Deductions You Can Take Without Itemizing

Itโ€™s not always beneficial to itemize. With IRSโ€™s current standard deduction for 2025 most Americans who canโ€™t itemize go with standard deduction.

US Economy Adds 139,000 New Jobs in May, Topping Market Forecasts

U.S. economy added 139,000 new jobs last month, surpassing economistsโ€™ expectations and indicating U.S. labor market remains in a robust position.
spot_img

Related Articles