A retired Ripon College economist says a national lockdown to curb a massive surge in coronavirus cases would have a significant negative economic impact on the country. Economist Paul Schoofs was reacting to comments by Dr. Michael Osterholm, an advisor to president-elect Biden, that a four to six week national lockdown would curb a tide of rising COVID-19 cases. Schoofs says while the doctor is correct it would the strongest way to nip the spread of the infection, it would also come at an awfully high cost. Schoofs says there are other steps that Americans need to take that could yield positive results like wearing masks and social distancing. Osterholm later clarified his comments, stating his never talked about that with the incoming administration about it and doesn’t think there’s a national consensus for it anyway.
