Two months of lockdown measures across Europe have saved 3.1 million lives in Europe, according to a new study.
According to the study conducted by scientists at Imperial College London, strict measures, such as school closures, in 11 European countries played a significant role in slowing the pandemic.
ALMOST 4 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION HAD BEEN INFECTED
In the study, published in the journal Nature, the scientists analyzed data from 11 countries — Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK — up to May 4.
Using a mathematical modeling approach, the scientists said 3.1 million people would have died by May 4 had the measures not been taken.
The team estimated that between 12 and 15 million people in these countries had been infected with the novel coronavirus, almost 4% of the population, with large country-to-country fluctuations.
The team also calculated that the reproduction number has dropped as a result of the measures.
Dr. Samir Bhatt, lead study author, said in a report published on the university website that there could have been more deaths from coronavirus without any interventions, such as lockdowns and school closures.