# UK Professors Study Impact of Social Distancing

**WKYT News · April 29, 2020**

WKYT reported on research estimating how social-distancing measures affected COVID-19 cases and deaths in Kentucky and included comments from Aaron Yelowitz.

## Participants

- **WKYT anchor:** News narration
- **Aaron Yelowitz:** Professor of Economics, University of Kentucky

## Related research

[Read “Strong Social Distancing Measures in the United States Reduced the COVID-19 Growth Rate.”](/publications/2020-courtemanche-strong-social-distancing-measures-in-the-united-states-ufbsql3s/)

[View the original WKYT story.](https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/UK-professors-study-impact-of-social-distancing-570057651.html)

## Generated spoken-word transcript

> **Transcript note:** This transcript was generated from the recording and may be imperfect. The recording is the authoritative source.

**00:00:00 — WKYT anchor:** A new study has put into numbers just how well social-distancing measures are working. Professors at UK and U of L released a report saying that, by April 25, if the governor had not issued any restrictions, Kentucky would have had ten times the number of severe COVID-19 cases. They estimate about 2,000 more deaths. Researchers say stricter social distancing, stay-at-home measures, and closing indoor dining have all limited cases. But they say easing restrictions too soon could cause cases to surge.

**00:00:33 — Aaron Yelowitz:** You’re likely to see cases rise up again, and there’s a concern that, if the cases did rise up again, would people adhere to the guidelines if we had to then lock down again? Those are some of the costly considerations that one needs to go through in terms of thinking about all of this.

**00:00:52 — WKYT anchor:** The professor believes that Kentucky doesn’t yet have the testing to open safely. He says it would be beneficial to wait and learn from neighboring states that are starting to reopen.