Statewide shutdowns across the country may have prevented millions of coronavirus infections in the USA, according to a study published Monday.
Researchers found the USA may have been able to avoid an additional 4.8 million confirmed coronavirus cases, which translates to about 60 million more infections, as a result of statewide lockdowns and mandated social distancing restrictions, according to the report published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature.
Infections were much higher than confirmed cases, they argued, because many people didn’t have access to a coronavirus test or didn’t go to their doctors to obtain one.
The study documented changes in testing procedures and availability, as well as differences in case detection across the country.
Johns Hopkins University reported more than 1.9 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 110,000 deaths as of Monday.
The study’s authors used a “reduced-form” technique more commonly used to measure economic growth rates.
They argued that, similar to COVID-19 infections, economic output generally increases exponentially as a result of policies and other conditions.
Dieckhaus expects the USA will be able to decouple economic activity and case transmission as some businesses restructure office settings to promote social distancing, schedule constant disinfecting and require a mask.
A separate study, also published Monday in the journal Nature, found such lockdown methods may have prevented more than 3 million deaths across 11 European countries.
Both studies contribute to the growing evidence that national and regional lockdowns helped prevent coronavirus transmission and infection.
Experts are concerned about a second wave of cases as the USA begins to ease restrictions and reopen the economy.
Statewide shutdowns across the country may have prevented millions of coronavirus infections in the USA, according to a study published Monday.
Researchers found the USA may have been able to avoid an additional 4.8 million confirmed coronavirus cases, which translates to about 60 million more infections, as a result of statewide lockdowns and mandated social distancing restrictions, according to the report published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature.
Infections were much higher than confirmed cases, they argued, because many people didn’t have access to a coronavirus test or didn’t go to their doctors to obtain one.
The study documented changes in testing procedures and availability, as well as differences in case detection across the country.
Johns Hopkins University reported more than 1.9 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 110,000 deaths as of Monday.
The study’s authors used a “reduced-form” technique more commonly used to measure economic growth rates.
They argued that, similar to COVID-19 infections, economic output generally increases exponentially as a result of policies and other conditions.
Dieckhaus expects the USA will be able to decouple economic activity and case transmission as some businesses restructure office settings to promote social distancing, schedule constant disinfecting and require a mask.
A separate study, also published Monday in the journal Nature, found such lockdown methods may have prevented more than 3 million deaths across 11 European countries.
Both studies contribute to the growing evidence that national and regional lockdowns helped prevent coronavirus transmission and infection.
Experts are concerned about a second wave of cases as the USA begins to ease restrictions and reopen the economy.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/06/08/covid-19-us-lockdown-prevented-60-m-coronavirus-infections-study-says/5317334002/s/