October 8, 2020. Written by three prominent epidemiologists, the Great Barrington Declaration is signed by 4,819 medical & public health scientists, 9, 084 medical practitioners, and 126,160 members of the general public (plus one - me). The declaration is sponsored by the American Institute of Economic Research, which is located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
The declaration says that current lockdowns are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health, including worsening cardiovascular disease outcomes, fewer cancer screenings, and deteriorating mental health. The lockdowns are leading to excess mortality in years to come. With the schools closed, the young will carry heavy burdens, and so will the working class. Keeping the measures in place until a vaccine is available “will cause irreparable damage, with the underprivileged disproportionately harmed.”
The vulnerability to death from Covid-19 is more than a thousand-fold higher in the old and infirm than in the young. Those who are at high risk should have “focused protection,” but those who are at minimal risk of death should live normal lives, to build immunity. All schools should be open for in-person teaching. Extracurricular activities, such as sports, should be resumed. Low-risk adults should work normally, rather than from home. Restaurants and other businesses should open. Arts, music, and other cultural activities should resume. Over time, people who have gained immunity will immunize the aged and infirm.
