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World News
Colin packham
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Social distancing and lockdowns in Australia not only slowed the spread of COVID-19, but saved the lives of some 400 people who were expected to die in June of respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, according to an article by research published on Monday showed.
Examining Australia’s most recent official death data, the Actuaries Institute said there was a gap between verified deaths and the expected number during the mid-winter month, which it concluded was due to a decline in respiratory illnesses.
“It is clear that the closures and other COVID-19 control measures have created great difficulties for many in Australia. There will surely be medium and long-term consequences for physical and mental health and the economy, ”said Jennifer Lang, Coordinator of the COVID-19 Task Force at the Actuaries Institute.
“These measures have not only saved many Australians from illness and death from COVID-19, but have also reduced deaths from other causes.”
Australia closed large swaths of its economy in March, limiting the number of people allowed to gather, and closing its international borders to slow the spread of the virus.
While the measures have come at a significant cost to the country’s economy, Australia has so far recorded just over 27,500 COVID-19 infections, far fewer than many other developed countries.
Australia’s economy contracted 7% in the three months to the end of June, the largest quarterly contraction since records began in 1959. The unemployment rate hit a 22-year high of 7.5% in July when businesses and the borders were closed to deal with the coronavirus.
