US State Restrictions and Excess COVID-19 Pandemic Deaths

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2821581?utm_term=072624&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_medium=referral&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Fru3Bty3b2C4jO8k4Nqo-rEieBhPRYMzf89-ZSNsXr5gDZmV_MzePRF3DjwJrTlamShOnZw0UnuIFa1KNfKIFU_QIDg&_hsmi=317667934&utm_source=For_The_Media Stronger Covid restrictions saved lives, per study If every state in the U.S. had imposed Covid policies like those in the 10 most restrictive states, deaths from the virus would have been 10-21% lower between July 2020 and June 2022, according to a study published Friday in JAMA Health Forum. State policies were largely similar in the first few months of the pandemic, but began to diverge in the second half of 2020. Study analysis found that mask requirements (especially in schools) and vaccine mandates were associated with lower rates of excess deaths. On the flip side, a lack of mandates was associated with higher excess deaths. The analysis can’t conclusively identify causation, only associations. Still, the results suggest that strong Covid restrictions saved lives, the authors wrote.