New York City, the city we are lucky enough to call home, has been one of the centers of trade in the United States for the past couple of centuries. Never has there ever been streets that are as empty as they are now as we face a global pandemic of COVID-19, and everyone is required, by law, to practice social distancing. The media says that there are currently more than 59 thousand people that died from this virus worldwide; however, this is just the beginning of this pandemic. Today would mark the 21st day of my self-quarantine routine because my immune system is weakened right now. Coming home felt nice at first, but that way before the boredom struck and the days became endless.
There was another pandemic that occurred in the 14th century when the bubonic plague spread throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. This plague was known as "The Black Death." This plague went on for 7 years because the doctors and nurses at the time did not have the technology or knowledge we have today. The death toll was between 75 and 200 million people. Due to the lack of records, the range of the death toll is very high, especially since there weren't any ways for officials to keep track of the amount of people dying. The virus was spread from fleas that were living on rats, but there were rats living on ships. Ports and docks were a crowded place where people went to trade their goods. It would probably look just like one of our New York City Subway Stations, which is a place many people can catch and spread diseases. This is perhaps how the saying "spread like a plague" came to be. On another note, the subway system could be compared to the ships docking at the ports and spreading disease, just like the subway system does. It would be interesting to see how the history books would describe COVID-19, and comparing it to what actually happened. The difference would be intriguing because there will be some sources that will over exaggerate, other causes may overlook the actual facts. Still, there won't be many sources that will actually depict what is currently going on accurately enough for readers correctly interpret this situation. It certainly makes me wonder how well the history books on The Black Death actually represent the reality that went on during the time.
There were no forms of media or news outlets during the 14th century. The printing press wasn't even invented until the 15th century, which would mean that the majority of the people that got the bubonic plague weren't also aware that it was happening in other parts of the world. In the 21st century, however, we were mindful of COVID-19 in China even before it got to the United States. That's a luxury the people in the 14th century didn't have, a luxury that would help save lives by keeping the public informed about the current events and dangers to come. This doesn't mean the media will interpret the facts correctly, and sometimes even cause panic as well. The public reacted to COVID-19 as if it was the plague, also though its mortality rate is less than 5 percent, compared to the plague's mortality rate of 50 percent when left untreated. The global COVID-19 pandemic has caused a city like New York to shut down, leaving 100 percent of the workforce that is non-essential at home. It is now illegal to not practice social distancing in New York City, which would limit the freedom of fellow Americans during this time. However, the media is so focused on creating panic about the virus, that they don't keep the public informed enough about other information surrounding it. Everyone should keep an eye out for new stories that are designed to create panic. Furthermore, keep in mind that these same media outlets are making more money by creating fear because more people will watch the news, thus generating more income for them in this capitalist society. The media has become a powerful influence on society.
By: Sydney Lee
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