Peer-reviewed study questions effectiveness of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders

This study by Stanford researchers questions the effectiveness of locks and stay-at-home orders in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The researchers write:

“In summary, we fail to find strong evidence supporting a role for more restrictive NPIs (lockdowns) in the control of COVID in early 2020. We do not question the role of all public health interventions, or of coordinated communications about the epidemic, but we fail to find an additional benefit of stay-at-home orders and business closures. The data cannot fully exclude the possibility of some benefits. However, even if they exist, these benefits may not match the numerous harms of these aggressive measures. More targeted public health interventions that more effectively reduce transmissions may be important for future epidemic control without the harms of highly restrictive measures.”

The study was co-authored by Dr. Eran Bendavid, Professor John P.A. Ioannidis, Christopher Oh, and Jay Bhattacharya. The lead author, Dr. Bendavid, is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at Stanford. The other authors collectively work in departments including the Department of Epidemiology and the Department of Biomedical Data Science.

The group studied the effects of lockdowns in 10 countries: England, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the United States, which had more restrictive measures, were compared to Sweden and South Korea, where measures were less restrictive. After they accounted for the less restrictive lockdowns in South Korea and Sweden, they found “no clear, significant beneficial effect of more restrictive (lockdowns) on case growth in any country.”

As I wrote in this post:

All Latter-day Saints should speak out against the deadly and authoritarian lockdowns that have been instituted by out of control governments around the world. Not only have these lockdowns affected religious and others freedoms, but they are causing millions of unnecessary deaths, destroying the economy worldwide, bankrupting businesses and causing an increase in suicide, depression, anxiety and a myriad of other health disorders.

Lockdowns should be voluntary. People who feel they are at risk should stay home. Mask wearing… should also be voluntary. Governments that impose lockdowns and mask mandates are acting in an authoritarian manner. The purpose of this post is to increase pressure on society to end mandatory lockdowns and mask mandates so that healthy people can return to normal lives. Note that some protections should be taken for the most vulnerable in society (the elderly and others at risk), but these protections should follow the actual science, not the voodoo that is spouted by most people in the media today.

I would like to remind readers that in times of panic and fear, governments almost always respond by restricting freedom. During World War I, people of German descent were harassed and arrested. During World War II, 120,000 Japanese-Americans were sent to American detention camps because of fear and hysteria. The Supreme Court even upheld this clearly unconstitutional act. (I am happy to say that the Supreme Court recently apologized for this decision). We are living through a similar time now, when people allow their terror to justify government attempts to control other innocent people.

I would like to add that the Church has called for members to voluntarily wear masks as a gesture of kindness to others but has not come out in favor of government-mandated mask wearing. Please follow the Church’s guidance on this issue.

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About Geoff B.

Geoff B graduated from Stanford University (class of 1985) and worked in journalism for several years until about 1992, when he took up his second career in telecommunications sales. He has held many callings in the Church, but his favorite calling is father and husband. Geoff is active in martial arts and loves hiking and skiing. Geoff has five children and lives in Colorado.

5 thoughts on “Peer-reviewed study questions effectiveness of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders

  1. I couldn’t agree more with your comments. I’m posting here to let you know there’s at least one person who read your post. I’m 74 and have no filter and protest in a loud voice (because I’m also mostly deaf) to the mask nazis everywhere I go. So, consequently, I take my wife with me most of the time to help calm me down. I believe everyone should protest whenever they can. I believe one of the reasons this country is in the shape it’s in, after the big one of rejecting God, is that few, if any, ever protested loud enough to be heard. Scared? Intimidated? Embarrassed? No backbone? No faith? The Lord says over and over not to fear. Too many of us just stand around and wait for someone else to do the work. I got sick of waiting.
    Thanks for stating the obvious.

  2. Government takes over healthcare. Government uses (potential) health care shortages as reason for reduction of freedom.

    The key problem isn’t the virus, social distancing or masks, although those are obviously serious issues in their own ways.

    The problem is the inevitable inefficiencies, overreactions, and even excess deaths that happen when you attempt to centrally manage a solution to an infinitely faceted complex problem.

    That’s not an easy argument win, so central control wins more and more. And what do you know, problems continue to increase, requiring more centrally managed problem growing “solutions”.

    At the end of the day, if the government wants to stick a need in your arm or a nail in your palm, I know the example I’ll follow to guide what is expected of a true disciple. But I won’t go out of my way to submit.

  3. Sute, yes. The primary purpose of government these days is to try to fix the problems caused by too much government. And of course more government just causes more problems, and on and on.

    Hans, I really appreciate your comment. I don’t want to be too much of a Karen, but I would point out that the Church has asked us to wear masks in certain situations out of courtesy to others. So, we must balance our desire to speak out against these ridiculous mandates with a need to be courteous and follow laws. It is a tough balance for those of us who love liberty.

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