Emails from 1969 virus

She died shortly after. The global fight to stop or at least slow down COVID has brought heavy restrictions on all aspects of public life, including restaurants, bars, weddings, funerals, churches, movie theaters and gyms. Schools have reverted to remote learning and most business now happens via Zoom. Professional sports are on indefinite hold, including Wimbledon , which canceled for the first time since World War II.

How does this compare to the Hong Kong flu? The virus rarely made front-page news. It may seem like the world responded to the pandemic with a shrug of indifference, but the different approaches may be down to a generational divide, said Poling. One of my most vivid memories is of a chickenpox party. The idea was that you should get it and get it over with when you are young. Even with those relaxed ideas about viruses, the Hong Kong flu caught the world by surprise.

It was different from previous pandemics because of how fast it spread, thanks largely to increased international air travel. The idea that a pandemic could be controlled with social distancing and public lockdowns is a relatively new one, said Tucker. It was first suggested in a study by New Mexico scientist Robert J. But the differences between how the world responded to two pandemics, separated by 50 years, is more complicated than any single explanation. The Hong Kong flu also arrived at a particularly volatile moment in history.

There was the race to land a man on the moon and political assassinations and sexual liberation and the civil rights movement. Dining out, for instance, was a rare indulgence for most American families then. In , we feel that being denied music festivals and restaurants is an egregious attack on our liberty. May 16, am Updated May 18, am. Thousands gather without a care at Woodstock in August despite a deadly flu pandemic, while today we cower in place amid COVID Yes No.

Sorry this didn't help. Thanks for your feedback. This thread is locked. You can follow the question or vote as helpful, but you cannot reply to this thread. I have the same question Report abuse. Details required :. Cancel Submit. If you're using the outlook. How satisfied are you with this reply? Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

In reply to A. User's post on October 10, Vega Hassan. In reply to Ashesmlg's post on October 10,