Lack of Early Action Led to Thousands of Additional Deaths, Study Finds
A study out of Columbia University found that the delayed response to COVID-19 cost a minimum of 36,000 lives in the United States. This figure is based on models developed by Dr. Jeffrey Shaman’s team, which calculated the reduced death toll if the US had implemented social distancing measures one week earlier than it did in mid-March. The researchers also modeled a scenario in which lockdown measures began two weeks before the majority of the population started adhering to the guidelines. This more proactive approach would have prevented 83 percent of the country’s deaths — or 54,000 fewer deaths by early May.
Full Story: New York Times