Lockdowns across the globe prevented millions of deaths from the novel coronavirus, new studies published Monday report.
According to a study by the Imperial College of London, some 3 million deaths were averted in eleven countries - Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland – because of lockdown measures including the closings of non-essential businesses and schools.
A separate study conducted in the United States and published alongside the British study Monday found that some 530 million cases of COVID-19 were prevented or delayed by lockdown policies implemented in China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, France and the United States.
The number of COVID-19 deaths worldwide neared 403,000 and the confirmed cases stands at more than seven million, according to data collected by the Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Research Center.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Monday that while the situation was improving in Europe, it is worsening in other parts of the world.
“More than 100,000 cases have been reported on 9 of the past 10 days. Yesterday, more than 136,000 cases were reported, the most in a single day so far,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom, WHO director general, said Monday.
“Almost 75% of yesterday’s cases come from 10 countries, mostly in the Americas and South Asia,” he added, noting increases in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia as well.
The United States remains the country with the highest number of deaths, followed by Britain, Brazil and Italy.
U.S. has also the highest number of confirmed cases, moving closer to two million, followed by Brazil with about a third of that number, and Russia and Britain.
Source: VOA news