London’s Epidemic in Comparison in COVID-19
Introduction
The dynamics of cholera outbreak in London in the 19th Century and COVID-19 pandemics are considered detrimental. Although the two pandemics happened in different centuries, they have portrayed some commonness, especially posing a threat to London. Just as terrifying as the pandemic had been in the 19th Century, so does the coronavirus pandemic in the 21st Century. Additionally, both pandemics have posed a challenge on the British medical department for their challenge to these pandemics, which have caused much death London’s people. Back then, the cholera pandemic had spread from Asia to Europe, just as the COVID-19. Based on these prompts, we need to conduct research and thus, respond to how COVID-19 compares to London’s Epidemic in the middle of the 19th Century in political and social responsibility interventions. The London Epidemic in the middle of the 19th Century has raised almost similar political and social responsibility interventions to the COVID-19 pandemic in the 21st Century.
The London’s Pandemic and COVID-19
Characteristics
London’s Epidemic was the most intense outbreak of Cholera, one of the terrifying experiences. A change followed the epidemic in science, cities, and the modern world, just like the COVID-19 in today’s some common measures has been taken. Both pandemics are infectious and fatal, causing alarming death rates among the London residents; thus, they need to contain the two pandemics. Also, there has been a challenge with the right resources in both pandemics that would help control both pandemics. A more significant challenge that has been experienced is the rate of spread. However, Cholera was caused by a bacterium, Vibrio cholera; while COVID-19 was viral, they have attracted attention from the government and society on measures that would help control the spread (Johnson n.p). These diseases are highly infectious between individuals, thus needed measures to ensure that the spread was curbed. Some measures such as quarantine, social distancing were common experiences for both experiences.
Other similarities can also be highlighted in the fight for the two pandemics. Basically, the two outbreaks have headed a great concern on maintaining healthy environments, as known Cholera is associated with poor sanitation and water contamination, as well as swallowed food. Therefore, to curb the spread, the focus is to create a clean living environment, as both can be transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces (Bencard n.p). At the curb of the spread, people are warned to keep washing their hands, washing fruits and vegetables. Also, the two had symptoms varying from mild to chronic, causing death if they were left untreated.
Social Responsibility Interventions
The outbreak of health-related pandemics adversely impacts society. In the bid to address these effects, we need to actively engage all the community members by making them first appreciate the important roles they can play in addressing the effects of these pandemics. The incorporation of the society focuses on collaboration among all the society members to address the social consequences attributed to the spread of Cholera and coronavirus (Borak 1403). For the interventions put in place to curb the spread of pandemics to achieve reasonable success, it is essential to involve everyone in the society. With this in place, we are sure that all the individuals will collectively follow the measures put in place, such as washing hands, social distancing, and putting on masks. Every person in society will be concerned with the health of every individual.
Additionally, part of the intervention had a focus on corporate social responsibility. This incorporates the engagement of companies and firms in London to help the society during the pandemic. The involvement focus on examining the roles that the London companies in collaboration with the society members to help in the control of the infections. In order to achieve significant results, the community must be fully engaged in the control measures. The aspect of corporate show responsibility has been depicted through various firm commitments with the society to develop actions that would help alleviate the consequences of the pandemics (He and Harris 176; García‐Sánchez 126). In the 19th Century, organizations came out to support these measures, just as today were at the forefront of developing strategies with different objectives aiming to curb the effects of the outbreaks. Both pandemics affected the economic sector; therefore, the firms were focused on protecting the interests of shareholders and investors, favoring the wellbeing of the society and other vulnerable groups.
Collectively, the world health organization (WHO) has been actively involved in making interventions that help in controlling the spread. Measures have been put in place by this organization on the modifications that each individual is entitled to follow keenly. These are modifications that individuals had to make to curb the spread of bot the COVID-19 pandemic and those made during the London pandemic, including avoiding social gatherings and putting on masks. It is the obligation of each person to follow these rules.
Political Responsibility
Overcoming the spread of pandemics' political goodwill and responsibility is critical. In this effort, the London government is actively involved in offering intervention during the cholera pandemic. Primarily the role of the government is to put in place measures that would help in protecting citizens from getting infected by the pandemic. Apart from putting in place the measures, they make sure that these measures are strictly followed and that violators are faced by the law. The government also enhanced the conditions that led to the outbreak. In the 19th Century, the pandemic was caused by poor infrastructure, poor sanitation, and contaminated water (Johnson n.p). The government funded the British Medical department to develop interventions that would help in minimizing the effects of the pandemic. Additionally, the government sought the introduction of modern sewer systems and the new conception of the rapidly growing population centers. More importantly, Cholera was associated with poor living conditions. To intervene in this, the Victorian London government worked on improving the living conditions for people living in extreme poverty and overcrowded places.
Similarly, in the face of COVID-19, the government has a big role to play. The political rulers need to express much solidarity with those affected or directly impacted by the pandemic. We need to accept that no one has been left untouched by the coronavirus pandemic, creating inequalities in society. There is a need to ensure that all sectors take part in health promotion and social development, as well as embracing social responsibility. Keeping in mind that COVID-19 has influenced and continues to affect all the sectors in every country, including London, long-lasting interventions need to be put in place to offer a robust solution to the challenges associated with the virus (Harning 5). The London government has a responsibility to offer reliefs such as tax reliefs that would help keep the business moving amid the pandemic. Additionally, the government should fund the medical department with efforts to research and invent vaccines for the coronavirus, and this will revert the country back to normality and freedom in life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both London’s epidemic of the 19th Century and the COVID-19 of the 21st Century have raised the same political and social responsibility. This is a clear indication that the two outbreaks share common fatalities and thus the same preventive measures. Both London’s pandemic and the coronavirus have revealed commonness in terms of methods of spread, fatalities, and spread. This, therefore, means that similar control methods can be deployed in curbing their spread. For success in the intervention measures, we need to fully engage the society and the government, who play an essential role in implementing these measures (Dodds et al. 290). It is, therefore, the role of every individual to take responsibility and join hands in helping prevent the spread of both outbreaks. Additionally, London’s government needs to take its position to help in addressing all the measures that would help citizens feel comfortable as they fight against pandemics.
Works Cited
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Johnson, Steven. The ghost map: The story of London's most terrifying epidemic--and how it changed science, cities, and the modern world. Penguin, 2006.
