Lockdowns don’t work – unless your goal is destroying Canadians futures

As we head into another 28-day lockdown courtesy of Premier Ford I’m reminded of two things. The first thing I’m reminded of is the literature published on August 1st of 2020 in the Lancet stating that lockdowns don’t work. Secondly, I’m reminded of the numbers coming out of Texas that show that Covid numbers have fallen for the 17th consecutive day after they reopened the state and removed the mask mandate.

The Lancet

The lancet is one of the most prestigious medical journals in the world. So imagine my surprise to find a research paper that indicated that after studying the top 50 countries in the world (highest number of Covid cases) they found that “rapid border closures, full lockdowns, and wide-spread testing were not associated with COVID-19 mortality per million people.”

Here’s the full quote:

“Rapid border closures, full lockdowns, and wide-spread testing were not associated with COVID-19 mortality per million people. However, full lockdowns (RR=2.47: 95%CI: 1.08–5.64) and reduced country vulnerability to biological threats (i.e. high scores on the global health security scale for risk environment) (RR=1.55; 95%CI: 1.13–2.12) were significantly associated with increased patient recovery rates.”

The study goes on to say in its interpretation that “low levels of national preparedness in early detection and reporting, limited health care capacity and population characteristics such as advanced age, obesity and higher unemployment rates were key factors associated with increased viral spread and overall mortality.”

So how prepared the nation was in terms of early detection reporting (requires trust from citizenry), their health care capacity (Canada and especially Ontario health care capacity is very poor) and population characteristics such as advanced age (Italy has very aged population), obesity and higher unemployment rates were key factors associated with the increased spread and deadliness of Covid-19 – not Canadians enjoying their lives by loving friends and family in person without wearing a mask.

Ironically, if age, obesity and unemployment contribute to increased caseload and increased mortality then shutting down the gyms and the day-to-day routines of our lives by our politicians was not only unscientific – but could be helping to contribute to increased caseload and mortality from Covid within Canada. Essentially, politicians could be exasperating the problem they’re claiming to solve – all while they blame the Canadian people for the problem.

Politicians would like you to think that Covid is the reason our hospitals are in poor shape (overall they are ok right now for the most part), but if our hospitals are in poor shape – it’s because the system was broken pre-Covid. Just look at this report from CBC on the shape of Ontario’s hospitals from Jan-Jun of 2019.

Quick Facts on Ontario Hospitals from the article

• 83 hospitals were above 100 percent capacity for more than 30 days.
• 39 hospitals hit 120 percent of their capacity or higher for at least one day.
• 40 hospitals averaged 100 percent capacity or higher for the entire year

Texas 17 days of reduced Covid cases

If lockdowns don’t work and a healthy employed population is a key component to fighting back higher caseloads and increased mortality – then why are we locking down? Are the terrified Karen’s and Kens dictating public policy or are lobbyists behind closed doors – because it certainly isn’t the average everyday Canadian anymore.

Lockdowns will destroy even more of Canadian livelihoods all without providing any benefit to overall case mortality or deaths.

If health and wellness are key to battling back Covid (like most illnesses) then destroying the economy and shutting down places for Canadians to improve their health seems very ill-informed. I know you may be scared Doug – but just look to Texas and you’ll realize the sky won’t fall when you open up.

Despite President Joe Biden calling the move “Neanderthal thinking” and a “big mistake”, the state has enjoyed 17 straight days of reduced Covid cases after reopening the state and removing the mask mandate – all signs that validate the research paper in the Lancet. Hospitalizations in the state have also dropped to “3,308, its lowest level since October.”

I guess if we’re following the evidence and the science – then stop being so ignorant and hurting so many Ontarians Premier Ford. Do the right thing and open up the province! The models have been wrong time and time again – how many suicides, overdoses, future taxes, future debt, lost jobs are you ok with before you say enough and show some leadership for a change?

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Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash