Lockdowns prevented 3.1 million deaths in Europe: Study
Millions of people would have died by May 4 had measures not been taken, new study says
Two months of lockdown measures across Europe have saved 3.1 million lives in Europe, according to a new study.
According to the study conducted by scientists at Imperial College London, strict measures, such as school closures, in 11 European countries played a significant role in slowing the pandemic.
In the study, published in the journal Nature, the scientists analyzed data from 11 countries -- Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK -- up to May 4.
Using a mathematical modeling approach, the scientists said 3.1 million people would have died by May 4 had the measures not been taken.
The team estimated that between 12 and 15 million people in these countries had been infected with the novel coronavirus, almost 4% of the population, with large country-to-country fluctuations.
The team also calculated that the reproduction number has dropped as a result of the measures.
Dr. Samir Bhatt, lead study author, said in a report published on the university website that there could have been more deaths from COVID-19 without any interventions, such as lockdowns and school closures.
“Careful consideration should now be given to the continued measures that are needed to keep SARS-CoV-2 transmission under control,” he added.
Since first appearing in Wuhan, China last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 188 countries and regions.
