Lockdowns have been deemed ineffective in reducing deaths during future pandemics by researchers from Johns Hopkins University and Lund University. The experts claim that while measures taken to curb COVID-19 from spring 2020 had severe economic and social implications, they failed to significantly cut deaths. The report published by the Institute of Economic Affairs found that lockdowns prevented relatively few deaths compared to a typical flu season. The study noted that voluntary behavioural changes played a significant role in mitigating the pandemic and, in Sweden’s case, effectively reduced COVID-19 mortality without imposing legal restrictions. The research concludes that lockdowns should be “rejected out of hand” to control future pandemics. MPs have debated whether the UK should be involved in the WHO pandemic treaty that could give the WHO the power to impose lockdowns on the UK.