A Tool to Estimate the Net Health Impact of COVID-19 Policies | Center For Global Development

Type Blog Post URL https://www.cgdev.org/blog/tool-estimate-net-health-impact-covid-19-policies Date 26/05/2020 Accessed 2020-07-06 00:24:18 Website Type Blog Abstract Many groups have begun estimating the number of what some commentators call “lockdown victims” of the response to COVID-19. In the UK where data are available, excess non-COVID-19 deaths make up about a third of all excess deaths reported thus far; this is only likely to increase given the time lag in mortality in chronic conditions. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where such official statistics are unavailable or less reliable, social media reports and evidence from health management information system are beginning to confirm some of the devastating predictions. While we agree with WHO chief scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan that “it is urgent for health systems everywhere … to ensure that routine health services…are not interrupted,” we can’t ignore that health services are, and will continue to be, interrupted—not only by the outbreak itself, by the response to it from governments, the global community, and individuals. Blog Title Center For Global Development