Study Finds U.S. Lockdowns Didn’t Make A Big Difference In Stopping Covid: FORBES
Many people changed their behavior regardless of whether their state imposed a lockdown, researchers suggested.
A team of researchers from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy found states that imposed shelter-in-place orders, mandatory business closures and other tight restrictions didn’t see a significant difference in the number of coronavirus infections or deaths during the virus’ first U.S. surge last spring.
Shelter-in-place orders also appeared to have very little impact on people’s mobility, which researchers measured using cell phone data.
However, researchers did not cast this as proof that social distancing is unnecessary: Instead, it could mean scores of Americans changed their habits regardless of whether their state imposed restrictions, often because health officials encouraged them to.
READ THE FULL STORY: Study Finds U.S. Lockdowns Didn’t Make A Big Difference In Stopping Covid—But That Doesn’t Mean They’re Pointless
