COVID-19 Patients
(Photo : Reuters Connect)

A new study revealed that a staggering hundreds of millions of infections were prevented by the stringent lockdowns implemented in different countries.  

Nationwide Lockdown

One of the measures implemented in almost all parts of the world to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections is a nationwide lockdown. Many experts have agreed that this would prevent the spread of the infectious and deadly virus. 

However, nationwide lockdowns have somehow paralyzed the economy of most countries, leading some of the bigger companies to declare bankruptcy, such as Avianca, which is the biggest airline in Colombia and the second-largest running airline in the world.

Despite the lockdowns implemented in the different parts of the world to stop the virus contagion, different governments are also doing their best until today to give support to its citizens like stimulus or financial and food aid. 

How Many Hundreds of Millions Were Prevented by Nationwide Lockdowns?

Researchers at the University of California published their research in the scientific journal Nature titled "The Effect of Large-Scale Anti-Contagion Policies" on the COVID-19 Pandemic. Researchers looked into six countries that implemented lockdowns, namely, China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, France, and the United States. 

The study revealed that nationwide lockdowns in these countries have a significant effect in preventing the number of infections. The United States has prevented 60 million infections, 285 million in China, 38 million in South Korea, 49 million in Italy, 54 million in Iran, and 45 million in France. Overall, a staggering 530 million or almost half a billion of infections were prevented from these countries. 

According to the researchers, a growth of 38 percent of infections was supposed to be recorded everyday if lockdown was not implemented. They also asserted that anti contagion policies have significantly slowed down the growth of infections.

Accuracy and Recorded Number of Infections and Death Toll

The accuracy and validity of the number of infections and death toll recorded everyday is not only an issue in the United States but this is one of the problems of almost all countries as well. One factor seen is that many chose not to be diagnosed due to lack of testing or due to financial constraints most especially in the impoverished countries. 

An earlier study that was released in May suggested that lockdowns could be an effective strategy for reducing the COVID-19 related deaths. In the published research, the 50 days strict lockdown and followed by another 30 days regimen that depends on the government's strategy and relaxing social distancing has greatly contributed to reducing the number of infections of all countries to 50 percent. 

Meanwhile, in another study that was published also in May, it argued that "optimal targeted lockdown" might have helped as well to protect the most vulnerable groups when they were grouped according to age while protecting the economy as well. 

Moreover, there are many studies published the recent months suggest that lifting the nationwide lockdowns should not be done for as long as no vaccine is available because it will only lead to a spike of more infections and COVID-19 deaths.

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