The Great Plague and COVID19. What similarities were there? What lessons should we have learned?
Daniel Defoe published a contemporary account of the Great Plague of London in 1723. Daniel was only five in 1665, during The Great Plague. It is believed to be based on his uncle Henry Foe’s experiences. How does Defoe’s account compare with our experiences of COVID19?
There are lessons we could have learned from that plague pandemic.
This blog comprises extracts from an imaginary interview I had with Daniel about the Great Plague. This is in The Emergency Planning Society magazine, ‘Resilience’.
The main difference was that the plague was slow-moving across Europe compared with the rapid global travel of our time. It left Florence in 1633 and arrived in London in 1665. The government, aware the plague was in Holland a couple of years before, suppressed the information. Much as China did with COVID19.
Similarities we could have learned from
About people
Social distancing – the need for emergency hospitals; contactless payment; track and trace; closure of pubs plus theatres; furlough and self-isolating to mention a few.
Social Distancing – People kept at home as much as possible to avoid contact. When they did go out, they walked down the centre of the road, keeping a reasonable distance apart. Avoiding close contact with others and buildings.
Self-Isolating – If you or your family had come into contact with the plague or showed symptoms, the whole household (including servants) had to remain indoors for 28 days. Two watchmen, one day and one night, posted to make sure they remained inside.
Nightingale Hospitals – Daniel sends a message through his book to us that the most significant lesson we could learn is that their one Pest House in London had a capacity of 200 – 300. There was not enough beds. People pushed close together with two to a bed. He implores us to build extra capacity quickly.
About the economy
Contactless Payment – The butcher put his meat joints on hooks. Instead of being served, people helped themselves. They then put their money in a pot full of vinegar. Sometimes a purse with coins in was set alight before being dropped into water.
Track and Trace – If someone had the plague, their whole household were tracked down and incarcerated in the same house.
Closure of Taverns, Coffee Houses and Theatres – Taverns plus Ale and Coffee Houses were heavily discouraged and closed at 9 pm. All plays, bear-bating, games, singing of ballads, buckler play or assemblies were completely banned.
Furlough – The King made available a thousand pounds a week in London. This was because all non-essential trade was at a full stop. The money was for the relief therefore of all master-workmen. This money was of huge benefit it meant that those who survived were still around to resume their trade once things returned to normal.
Rats deserting
There were other similarities with the Great Plague and COVID19. One being, those with money who owned country houses, deserting London and going to the country where, until their arrivals, the plague was less virulent.
All In all, 17th Century Londoners would have been more familiar with our current regime and COVID19 than we may have thought.
