It's no secret that the COVID-19 (informally known as the CoronaVirus) is taking over the world, and every aspect of our lives. However, this isn’t the first time a pandemic like this has existed. Let’s travel back in time to the other 20s. The 1920s. Sure, you may know it for flapper girls and unique style, but what was truly on everyone’s minds back then was the Spanish Flu. Not so glamorous, huh? Let’s break down the economical, social, and political aspects of what caused the downfall of the 20s.
The Beginning There have been many theories as to how the Spanish Flu came to be, but the most probable one according to scientists is that it originated in northern China. This can clearly be a parallel to how the COVID-19 was also first contracted in humans in China.
The Virus The two viruses do share a large amount of symptoms: runny nose, cough, fever, etc. However, it is important to note that the two viruses are medically very different, even if they may feel similar. For a more simplistic look at their difference, we can note what age groups are affected most. As you may know, COVID-19 is mainly detrimental to elders over the age of 80. In contrast, the Spanish Flu hurt young adults the most. Besides that difference that we can clearly see, the viruses are very different in their scientific makeup and classification.
The Economical Fall It can be hard to trace what exactly led to the Great Depression, and it certainly cannot fully be pinned on the Spanish Flu, seeing as war was a large factor as well. However, the government’s choices did largely contribute. One of the things President Herbert Hoover promised was “easy money”. This caused a rise in the stock market before it’s inevitable crash once again. This can be compared to how President Donald Trump is promising Americans $1,000 checks to help them out. Although you could argue this won’t affect the stock market, it relies on individual people’s money to fuel it. If the market notices a jump of money between many people, it will create an artificial rise. Another thing to note is the loss of jobs during the Great Depression. Recently, there is a prediction that unemployment rates could soar to 30%, which is no surprise. Governor Murphy just issued that all businesses that are not essential must shut down, just as they did in the 1920s. Although this is seen as essential, it will cause many people to lose their jobs, even if it is temporary. In fact, no one is sure how “temporary” this situation is, so dozens of people are flocking to file for unemployment. Without jobs, people won’t have money thus creating a depression.
The Social Aspect During the Spanish Flu outbreak, all places for social gatherings were shut down. Well, they were supposed to be. However during a parade in Philadelphia, thousands of people were infected and died. This is the perfect example of why social distancing is necessary. Masks, although helpful, are not an iron shield. The best thing you can do is stay away from large groups.
What does this all mean? For one, we need a secure plan. We have learned from the Great Depression that by trying many things out and seeing how they work is only going to hurt us in the long run. Now, we have more resources such as the internet where people can work from home. Creating more jobs like that will ensure we have a semi-stable financial future. Second, this isn’t going to be a one-and-done deal. If we continue a shutdown for our safety, it will take more than just a week and some hand sanitizer to get back to “normal”. If anything, patience is going to be more important than ever. This isn’t going to be an easy situation, but we have to remember that we are prioritizing our safety and the ones we love above all else.