Also see this other recent pre-print study "Lockdown Effects on Sars-CoV-2 Transmission – The evidence from Northern Jutland". In a homogenous area they found that lockdowns had no significant effect on transmission rates.<p><a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.28.20248936v1" rel="nofollow">https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.28.20248936v...</a>
> While small benefits cannot be excluded, we do not find significant benefits on case growth of more restrictive NPIs. Similar reductions in case growth may be achievable with less restrictive interventions
All the data in the world can't change the reality of businesses closing down forever in the city I live in (Sofia, Bulgaria). Organizations who are trying to protect the interests of various business branches raised a huge outcry lately because many restaurants, gyms, malls, and shops housed in malls are at the brink of a complete and irreversible bankruptcy.<p>Furthermore -- and as is expected here in Eastern Europe -- the government promised to help those businesses and most of them haven't received a cent yet.<p>In light of these events the government finally decided to actually start opening up the country while still requiring a PCR test if you want to come in. We will be "in lockdown" but a lot of stuff will start operating as usual, with gradually relaxed measures in the areas where things are still locked down spread throughout the next 3 months.<p>---<p>I feel this pandemic brought the worst out of people. Sure, we must try and protect the lives of others because their immune system might not be as strong and they can literally die, that's not under dispute! But the outright <i>bullying</i> I witnessed both virtually and physically in person out there is nothing but extremely saddening. And overdone.<p>People turned on each other while the proof that looser social distancing leads to increased cases has been somewhat unconvincing. To be 100% clear, and before I eat 1000 enraged disagreements, the correlation is clearly there but looking at the data week by week (and month by month) that correlation definitely wasn't as strong as the proponents for full lockdowns make it look. And then you have countries like Sweden (and people still can't agree on why their numbers are [were?] like they are).<p>---<p>And judging by seeing which comments here get the grey color treatment and unconstructive comments, I'd say the pandemic seems to be one of the most strongly politically charged topics in the last several months, likely for the entirety of 2020 even.<p>---<p>Please try and understand the other side. People who want the lockdown to end are not "monsters" and "dumb egoists" or whatever. They want to be able to afford food! And please don't forget that stimulus packages and <i>meaningful</i> unemployment benefits (not talking about the literal 80 to 100 EUR you can get here in Bulgaria) are actually something very small number of countries are blessed with. Most of the countries on this planet throw their citizens under the bus while still expecting them to pay all taxes. So please leave your privilege at the door before judging.<p>And please, be considerate. It seems everybody turned on each other. It's heart-breaking to witness and is not helping anything. Bullying people doesn't help a bankrupt family business that leaves 20 people wondering if they'll eat the next week.
Seems pretty obvious by this stage that lockdowns don't bring benefits proportional to the massive costs. Just look at Peru, who "locked down hard, locked down early" and for months. The insanity needs to end.<p>Lockdowns do have one benefit for those imposing them. If cases go down - "see lockdowns are working". If cases go up governments can blame the plebs - "it's your fault, you didn't follow the rules"
I won't read the article as the comments clearly indicate it is selective. We all know lockdowns have a major impact on many businesses and individuals. We also know that restricting contact will slow the spread of disease.<p>It's all going to be a case of how the statistics are captured, measured, assessed, reported. Can't take any reports as 100% accurate<p>>> “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”