Study from Johns Hopkins Univ. finds lockdowns had little to no effect on COVID mortality

MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — A new study from Johns Hopkins University came to the conclusion that lockdowns have had little to no effect on COVID-19 mortality.

“it’s an important question," Alabama Dept. of Public Health District Medial Officer Dr. Wes Stubblefield said. “As health officials and as elected leaders, we need to know what evidence there is for when we decide that disrupting society, and potentially other types of economic interests, or when the health concerns outweigh those interests.”

Hopkins researchers understood that, they looked at lockdowns following the first wave of COVID two years ago and conducted a meta-analysis on several studies regarding lockdowns. It found they only reduced COVID deaths by two-tenths percent in the U.S. and Europe. This contradicts a University of Oxford study which estimated the lockdowns saved 3-million lives in Europe.

"It's a controversial and important topic that the public needs to let play out in the academic research, because obviously as a non-economist it will be very difficult to read this study and say, "Oh yes, the methods and the research is valid," Stubblefield said.

The study states that lockdowns "imposed enormous economic and social costs where they have been adopted." Researchers ultimately came to the conclusion stating, "lockdown policies are ill-founded and should be rejected as a pandemic policy instrument."

Click here to view the full study.