Work

Impacts of the Statewide COVID-19 Lockdown Interventions on Excess Mortality, Unemployment, and Employment Growth

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to determine relationships between lockdowns and excess mortality, unemployment, and employment growth. METHODS: Each US states' mortality data for 2020 were compared with the prior 3 years to determine excess mortality. Data were compared using measures of lockdowns, or state openness scores and adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and cardiovascular disease. Comparisons were made with unemployment rates and employment growth rates. RESULTS: The 2020 excess mortality ranged from -9% to 46%. The average openness score was not significant ( P = 0.20). However, openness was strongly associated with both unemployment ( P = 0.01) and employment growth ( P = 0.0008). CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistical relationship between excess mortality and openness scores, while there were strong relationships with employment measures. These results suggest that lockdowns are not sufficiently beneficial for future use in this pandemic and raise concerns for use in future pandemics.

Source: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002597

Authors: Trevor Pugh, Jeffrey Harris, Kyle Jarnagin, Matthew S. Thiese, Kurt T. Hegmann

Institutions: Weber State University, University of Utah

Language: English

Topic: COVID-19 epidemiological studies

Subfield: Modeling and Simulation

Field: Mathematics

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health