⁍ Social distancing and lockdowns in Australia not only slowed the spread of COVID-19, they saved the lives of about 400 people.

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⁍ The Actuaries Institute said there was a shortfall between verified deaths and the number expected during the mid-winter month.

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⁍ Australia in March shut large swathes of its economy, limited the number of people allowed to gather together and shut its international borders to slow the spread of the virus.

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– Australia’s efforts to contain the deadly Middle East virus have cost the country’s economy millions of dollars, but a new study says they’ve also saved hundreds of lives. Researchers looked at official fatality data and found that about 400 people would have died in June from respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia had the country’s “social distancing and lockdowns” not been in place, Reuters reports. “It is clear that lockdowns and other COVID-19 control measures have created great hardship for many in Australia,” a researcher says. “There will surely be medium and long-term consequences for physical and mental health and the economy.” The study comes as Australia’s economy shrank 7% in the three months to the end of June, the biggest quarterly shrinkage since records began in 1959. The unemployment rate hit a 22-year high of 7.5% in July as businesses and borders closed to deal with the coronavirus. Australia has so far recorded just over 27,500 infections, far fewer than many other developed countries. While the measures have taken a significant toll on the country’s economy, Australia has so far recorded just over 27,500 COVID-19 infections, far fewer than many other developed countries. “These measures have not only saved very many Australians from COVID-19 disease and death, they have also reduced deaths from a number of other causes,” the researcher says. “It is clear that lockdowns and other COVID-19 control measures have created great hardship for many in Australia. There will surely be medium and long-term consequences for physical and mental health and the economy.”