Study Links Lockdowns to Gun Violence Surge in Philadelphia

The COVID-19 lockdowns in Philadelphia triggered a surge in gun violence in the city during the pandemic — and worsened poverty, unemployment, and racism, a new research study found.

The study was conducted by researchers at Temple University, and published by JAMA Network, was led by Dr. Jessica Beard, assistant professor of surgery and director of trauma research at Lewis Katz School of Medicine.

"It was in March actually that we saw a significant and sustained increase, nearly double of our violence in the City of Philadelphia," Beard told Philadelphia's ABC affiliate.

The researchers then used data from the city's police from January 2016 through Nov. 26, 2020.