A recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports shows that COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were “not an efficient way” to combat the spread of the virus.
The report titled “SARS-CoV-2 Suppression and Early Closure of Bars and Restaurants: A Longitudinal Natural Experiment” was based on work done by Japanese researchers and concluded that closures did “not contribute to the suppression of SARS-CoV-2.”
The researchers used Japan for their analysis because the early closing of restaurants and bars was the only mitigation strategy used by officials there during the first two months of 2021. For that reason, the research team was able to isolate the closures as a single variable to test against conditions without any restrictions.
The study obtained data for analysis through a large-scale survey conducted across representative regions of Japan.
The summary of the research results provided that the study suggests the early closure of restaurants and bars as a stand-alone policy is not an efficient method for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The summary of conclusions added that because of the detrimental economic effects on employment, policies other than closing public service businesses should be considered.
The data indicated that the Japanese public reduced its use of restaurants and bars as a result of the early closures, but found no “discernable decrease” in COVID-19 symptoms other than lesser incidents of “cough” among college graduates.
The study also observed data related to other symptoms, including sore throat, high fever, loss of smell or taste, and headache.
The study concluded that closures without any “concurrent measures” failed to suppress the spread of the virus.
The published results come after many months of mandated partial or total closures of restaurants and other businesses open to public gatherings around the world. Health officials touted the closures as their proposed solution for containing outbreaks of new COVID-19 variants.
A recent survey published by the Small Business Roundtable indicates that 31 percent of American small businesses ceased operations as a result of the ordered lockdowns.
Dr. Deborah Birx’s recently published book, Silent Invasion, indicates she was the main proponent of the lockdown measures adopted in the U.S.
The book goes on to claim that she was primarily supported in that push within the White House by Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
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