Why targeted lockdowns could be better for everyone

AS the optimism of summer begins to fade, rising Covid-19 cases in specific regions and outbreaks in countries that previously seemed to have the virus under control have led to a realisation that the global fight against the pandemic is far from over. With colder months on the way in many Northern Hemisphere regions and the threat of new variants developing, the potential for further snap lockdowns, as we have recently seen in Australia, China and Singapore, cannot and should not be discounted.

Throughout the pandemic, governments around the world have adopted the principle that such simple, sweeping confinements are the most effective short-term method for tackling rising cases, as the population waits for vaccination programmes to have an impact. However, the question remains whether full lockdowns are the most efficient solution for societies and economies that have been battered by the pandemic. The answer might well be no.

Our new study found that taking a more nuanced approach, which tailored the severity of a lockdown by age group and activities, could actually result in fewer lives lost and less ensuing damage to the economy, while also reducing confinement time for everyone.