Big Blue Public Health Illumination Seminar Series Unintended Consequences: Health Impacts of U.S. COVID-19 Lockdowns and School Closures

While lockdowns and school closures were central to the U.S. public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic, their broader health effects remain unclear. This presentation will share findings from a comprehensive systematic review of peer-reviewed studies examining the impact of these interventions on health outcomes beyond COVID-19 transmission and mortality. Special attention is given to how these policies may have affected groups with less access to education, healthcare, or economic opportunity. Attendees will be invited to discuss the ethical and practical trade-offs of large-scale public health interventions, and how public health can ensure data-driven decision-making in future health crises.