Comparison between the 2020 Coronavirus-19 and the 1665 Great Plague of London

Abstract

We are currently encountering one of the most disruptive pandemics in modern history. The outbreak of COVID-19 was first reported in the Chinese province of Hubei, which has now spread throughout the world resulting in about 81.5 million Covid-19 cases and 1.8 million deaths across 217 countries. Where we stand today, it is yet as dubious whether the number of cases will continue to rise and cause destruction or will it come to a halt. But it is certain that this is a crucial moment and that we are enduring a historic event that will reconstruct our societies both fundamentally and irreversibly. As we wade into this new age of pandemic, it is critical to rethink the history of pandemics and acknowledge the effective measures to combat these pandemics. With a conviction that the past helps us to comprehend the present and that the present should help us to rethink the past, we turn to one of the most destructive pandemics in history, the great plague of London in 1965, which is comparable to the COVID-19 in many aspects. This paper will describe the havoc caused by COVID-19 in all arrays of life, the impact of the pandemic in the United States, specifically in New York City, the similarity between the enduring effect of COVID-19 pandemic and the great plague of London in 1965, Sir Isaac Newton’s way of enforcing his time in quarantine during the Great Plague and the probable outlook of the world after the COVID-19 pandemic. Check for updates types, coronaviruses keep appearing and evolving, causing human and veterinary outbreaks [4]. According to the CDC [5], SARS-CoV-2 spreads predominantly when an affected person is in close contact with a non-affected person because small droplets and aerosols containing the virus can easily spread from an infected person’s nose and mouth when they breathe, cough or sneeze. Studies show that 101 out of every 10,000 cases develop symptoms after 14 days of active monitoring or quarantine [6]. SARS-CoV-2 infection can stimulate innate and adaptive immune responses. But the uncontrolled inflammatory innate responses and impaired adaptive immune responses may result in harmful tissue damage, both locally and Citation: Mananga ES, Rusmeha L (2021) Comparison between the 2020 Coronavirus-19 and the 1665 Great Plague of London. Ann Public Health Reports 5(2):216-223 Mananga and Rusmeha. Ann Public Health Reports 2021, 5(2):216-223 Open Access | Page 217 | [13]. The NYC and New York State public health laboratories began testing hospitalized patients at the end of February and early March. DOHMH (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene) reinforced patients with mild symptoms to stay at home rather than seek health care in the hospital because of shortages of personal protective equipment and laboratory tests at hospitals and clinics. The increased case fatality rate among hospitalized patients during the pinnacle of reported cases suggests that health care system ability constraints might have resulted in patient outcomes. Thus, the medical system and socioeconomic status have played a significant role in the health outcome of COVID-19 patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the economy of NYC as the unemployment level reached its peak. For example, the longer small businesses will have to remain shut-down, the less likely will they ever reopen [14]. According to New York Times, New York’s unemployment rate for July was at 15.9%, which ranks second among states and the District of Columbia, and its July mortgage delinquency rate was 8.38%, which ranks 11th, according to Bankrate. The high unemployment and bankruptcy rate suggest that NYC’s economy had been significantly affected by the pandemic. New York City (NYC), at one time the most significant hotspot of COVID-19 in the world, toward the end of June and into early July also noticed the largest political distress of any significant city in the U.S. with participants in demonstrations and another political fallout scarcely consenting to social distancing and face masking rules [14]. Surveys and studies have detected differences by political parties in the acceptance of and adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures such as social distancing or wearing face masks, as well as comfort in resuming daily activities as the nation opens. Due to the political leader of The United States not acknowledging the importance of wearing face masks and social distancing to prevent the COVID-19 infection, there has been a huge misconception among the mass population. As a result of which some people refuse to follow the CDC approved guidelines for COVID-19 prevention, causing a rapid increase in the infection level. Therefore, it is indisputable that the sudden emergence of the COVID-19 has created political unrest in NYC, which led to an elevated level of COVID-19 infection rate in NYC. The education system in NYC had faced many complications because of the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a 2-week vacation for school and college students turned out to be the closure of in-person classes and the development of virtual classes. The overnight transition to online classes created unprecedented problems for both the students and the instructors, especially for aged instructors and as well as students of low socio-economic backgrounds [15]. The proper transition process from in-person education to virtual education requires induction and familiarization for both students and the instructors. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was not an adequate period for training for a smooth transition to happen. Worth noting, in 2019, the poverty rate in NY State was at 13%, making it difficult for most college students in New York State to even afford a room where they can live or study by themselves efficiently. systemically. In patients with severe COVID-19, there is a reduced percentage of monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils which is responsible for the elevating level of infections [7]. SARS-CoV-2 is also responsible for the decreasing the number of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells and natural killer (NK) cells among the affected population, which can lead to the inflammatory responses and the production of a cytokine storm and worsen damaged tissue [8]. Elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines can result in shock and tissue damage in the heart, liver, and kidney, as well as respiratory failure or multiple organ failure. They also mediate extensive pulmonary pathology, leading to massive infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, diffuse alveolar damage with the formation of hyaline membranes and diffuse thickening of the alveolar wall. Spleen deterioration and lymph node necrosis can also be seen, indicative of immune-mediated damage in deceased patients [9]. As Covid-19 creates several complications in the organs and blood fluid of the patients, the virus can be considered contagious, especially for the elderly population and patients with underlying chronic non-communicable diseases. Successfully standardized treatment protocols for severe cases must be adapted globally to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The combined use of anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs may be more effective than the individual use of drugs. Based on in vitro evidence for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 replication and blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced proinflammatory cytokine production [10]. Coronavirus-19 in New York City The unexpected emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic gave rise to several complications in the fields of medicine, economics, politics, and education throughout the world, especially in the United States with NYC being one of the hotspots of the pandemic. Community transmission of COVID-19 was first identified in the United States in February 2020. By mid-March, all 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), New York City (NYC), and four U.S. territories had reported cases of COVID-19. About 165,000 cases and 13,000 deaths were reported in the city with considerable variability across the city’s ZIP codes within the boroughs by the end of April 2020 [11]. Based on preliminary U.S. data, the population with underlying health conditions such as diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease, and cardiovascular disease, presumably were at higher risk for severe COVID-19-associated disease than people without these conditions [12]. The infection rate and mortality in New York City varied depending on the zip code location. For the Individuals living in wealthier ZIP codes, it might have been easier to circumnavigate the restrictive initial testing guidelines on eligibility for a COVID-19 diagnostic test, resulting in a lower proportion receiving the test being COVID-19 positive. Reversibly individuals living in less wealthy ZIP codes may have been less able to receive tests unless clinically sick due to a lower proportion having a primary care physician and therefore reliant on emergency care for clinical consultation. Due to the low availability of COVID-19 testing in the poorer neighborhoods, it caused difficulties for the dwellers to detect and confirm the infection. Moreover, data show that the actual prevalence of COVID-19 is higher among Black individuals and those of lower socioeconomic status Citation: Mananga ES, Rusmeha L (2021) Comparison between the 2020 Coronavirus-19 and the 1665 Great Plague of London. Ann Public Health Reports 5(2):216-223 Mananga and Rusmeha. Ann Public Health Reports 2021, 5(2):216-223 Open Access | Page 218 | Parishes in London and Westminster had distinct pesthouses that served as hospitals for the sick. A master or a mistress oversaw them and employed nurses and watchmen. People would often recover from the plague and get released from the parish pest houses. But the wealthy population could afford to bribe searchers and watchmen as well as hide infected persons without attracting public attention. Even back then many people who had the disease tried to escape the quarantine, increasing the risk for th