The effect of lockdowns

There are constant sporadic reports of the unfortunate consequences of shutdowns. 

When everything is added up, it will no doubt turn out that the psychological, social and economic consequences of shutdowns cause significantly more illness, injury and death than covid-19.

 It is also clear from the international statistics that the number of deaths registered as caused by COVID has not been less in the countries that have had severe lockdowns. Rather the opposite. 

 To date, there are no summary heavier research reports on the consequences of the lockdowns. However, there is a beginning.

 A Canadian professor has calculated the advantages and disadvantages of lockdowns and concluded that the lockdowns in Canada have had 17 times greater negative effects measured in quality-adjusted life years than they had positive effects measured in quality-adjusted life years in terms of the reduction of COVID. The effect on quality-adjusted life years of lockdowns worldwide has, according to the same author, had ten times greater negative effects than what has been gained on reducing COVID. 

 (Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) is a scientifically accepted measure with which one can weigh the effects of different medical interventions against each other. 

Ari Joffe, Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, and an adjunct Clinical Professor at the John Dossetor Health Ethics Center at the University of Alberta: 

Rethinking lockdowns: The risks and trade-offs of public health measures to prevent COVID-19 infections https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/files/pdf/20201209_Rethinking_lockdowns_Joffe_COMMENTARY_FWeb.pdf

 Although Professor Joffe's work is solid and well executed, calculations of QUALY have so many factors with measurement problems that they are always debatable. But the results are worth discussing and developing.