Catherine Collins reported on research by Aaron Yelowitz and Charles Courtemanche estimating how social-distancing measures affected COVID-19 cases and deaths in Kentucky.
Participants
- LEX18 anchor: Introduction and closing announcement
- Catherine Collins: LEX18 reporter
- 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.”
View the original LEX18 story.
Generated spoken-word transcript
00:00:00 — LEX18 anchor: A study conducted by two University of Kentucky professors finds that social-distancing measures have worked to stop the spread of COVID-19 and prevent deaths in the state. LEX18’s Catherine Collins talked with one of the professors about what can be learned from the study as businesses plan to reopen.
00:00:17 — Catherine Collins: Kentuckians have been staying home and social distancing from friends and family for weeks. But have those sacrifices worked to prevent the spread of coronavirus? A new study conducted by two University of Kentucky economics professors suggests that the answer is a firm yes.
00:00:34 — Aaron Yelowitz: Our main finding is that there would have been about ten times as many cases by April 25 had the measures not been in place.
00:00:45 — Catherine Collins: So instead of about 4,000 confirmed cases by April 25, Professor Aaron Yelowitz says the study found it would be more like 45,000 confirmed cases—and about 2,000 additional deaths.
00:00:58 — Aaron Yelowitz: The social-distancing measures, the stay-at-home orders, and the closing of dining at restaurants dramatically bent the curve and saved lives.
00:01:10 — Catherine Collins: Yelowitz and his colleague compared data from states and counties in the Midwest and South. Some took considerable action; some did not. They found that just banning large gatherings and closing schools wasn’t enough to stop the spread. The stay-at-home measures and closure of dine-in and entertainment businesses made the biggest difference.
00:01:28 — Aaron Yelowitz: We think that the other measures might simply lead to people substituting from one form of social interaction to another form of social interaction.
00:01:37 — Catherine Collins: As Kentucky moves forward with plans to begin reopening businesses on May 11, Yelowitz says he doesn’t believe it’s the right time.
00:01:45 — Aaron Yelowitz: I think it’s too early. I think, among other things, we can learn in this next month about how our neighbors do in terms of reopening.
00:01:54 — Catherine Collins: He wants to see proof of what will happen when some of the measures that have saved lives are lifted. In Lexington, Catherine Collins, LEX18 News.
00:02:03 — LEX18 anchor: To read more about the study and the data the researchers used to make their determinations, head to LEX18.com.