Five ways lockdowns could be killing people

By Timothy P. Carney of The Washington Examiner.

"Amid this pandemic, masks probably save lives by suppressing the spread of droplets that could carry the virus. Social distancing, especially avoiding crowded indoor places, also saves lives. Closing schools, churches, stores, offices, gyms, and other institutions was necessary. It may still be necessary.

But as we consider the ways lockdowns might save lives by reducing the spread of the virus, we should also consider the many ways that the lockdowns cost lives. In short: loss of medical treatment, suicides, drinking, drugs, and violence.

· Children are not getting medical treatment, and adults are missing cancer screenings and treatments.

· Missing school, friends, sports, community, high school children are killing themselves at higher rates, and adults may be committing suicide at a higher rate.

· Alcohol consumption is way up.

· Drug use is way up. And drug overdoses went way up following stay-at-home orders.

· It’s also not implausible to attribute higher murder rates to the lockdowns that deprive young people of anything else to do, including jobs and recreation.

As policymakers try to weigh the health risks of opening up schools and businesses, they should consider the health risks of keeping society closed. It’s not merely that people have less money when businesses are closed. The cost-benefit is not lives versus GDP. In part, it's lives versus lives. People have less money, nothing to do, less access to friends. That leaves them with less purpose in life, less support, and less sense of belonging.

This alienation leads to violence, abuse, drugs, drinking, and other deadly behavior."