Why Covid deaths concentrated on the aged and in care facilities and why extreme lockdowns made things worse

Morris Altman, Hannah Altman and Louise Lamontagne

Chapter 4 in How to Manage Covid-19 and Other Pandemics, 2026, pp 60-87 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines why Covid-19 deaths were disproportionately concentrated among the elderly, particularly in care facilities, and how extreme lockdowns failed to protect them. It argues that more targeted, nuanced policies could have significantly reduced fatalities among vulnerable populations. Instead, many governments imposed broad restrictions that overlooked the specific risks faced by the aged. The data show that care facilities—especially those operated for profit—suffered higher death rates, owing to inadequate protections, while cooperatively managed homes fared better. The chapter contends that policymakers should have prioritized safeguarding these high-risk environments rather than enforcing blanket restrictions that did little to lower mortality. This failure to address the realities of age-based vulnerability resulted in unnecessary loss of life and further underscores the flaws of extreme lockdown approaches.

Keywords: Protecting The Elderly; Care Facility Failures; Targeted Interventions; Health Policy Mistakes; Vulnerable Populations And Covid; Smart Thinking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781802204421
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