An extraordinary journey to....our HOMES

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“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie

Way back in mid 1926, the camp fire blazed and flickered and lit up the immediate surrounds with it’s golden light. Deck chairs were positioned as close to the fire as possible and those hardy soles were probably the first to visit the Kruger National Park, established in May of that year. They would have had plenty to talk about apart from being in what has undoubtedly become the finest game park in the world.

The 1^st World War had ended a few years back in November 1918 and claimed the lives of an estimated 9 million combatants and 13 million civilians. They would have reflected on this war being a major turning point in the shape of the world at that time and it was largely The Treaty of Versailles which gave the victors the opportunity to expunge Germany, Russia and the Austro-Hungarian empires and replace large swathes of Europe with new states.

More importantly, the conversation would have shifted to the Spanish Flu pandemic which struck in April 1918. The origins of this flu remain unknown but it was in Spain that the early cases were reported in the media. Spain was neutral during the 1^st World War and had a free press whilst the Allies applied wartime censorship and held back on reporting the flu outbreak to keep morale high. This was effectively the world’s first pandemic in modern times and it was devastating with 500 million people infected and an estimated 20 to 50 million deaths. There were no vaccines and no therapeutic cures but some in the medical fraternity had determined that a daily dose of 30 grams of aspirin was a good treatment. Subsequently this high dosage was found to be toxic and it is believed that many deaths were caused by aspirin poisoning. The majority of people who lost their lives were in the 18 to 40-year age group. #Quarantinelife1918 proved to be as tiresome and surreal as is the case currently in the Covid-19 pandemic. No TV, internet and all the media gizmos of current times, so it was the time for bookstores and magazine stands to flourish. They were frequently out of stock and the arrival of a new shipment of stuff to buy and read was a major highlight for many. Masks were used as well as atomizers, which were water vapour spray devices used supposedly to prevent disease by clearing nasal and throat passageways. And then there were the “magic cure” claims including those made by the producers of Bovril who touted that their beefy extract had “bodybuilding powers capable of fighting the flu epidemic.” Police were very active on the streets enforcing laws which required that anyone who coughed or sneezed had to be holding a handkerchief and spitting on the street was considered a crime. Owing to the fact that many did not have access to ice boxes and hoarding of food stocks was not possible, restaurants remained open but applied social distancing. They were not allowed to serve ice cream and pie independent of a main meal as these two treats of those times were likely to encourage socialising and crowds of people. Typically, houses or apartments would alert the neighbourhood to anyone infected by placing a white scarf on the door. The infected occupant would then be quarantined and have no contact with the outside world. Four waves of this flu had occurred by the time it petered out in April 1919 largely due to many of those infected either dying or developing immunity.

Here we are in July 2020 in the vortex of Covid-19 and one wonders if #Quarantinelife2020 is vastly different to what was experienced in 1918. Lockdown restrictions have reduced normal daily activities and there is undoubtedly a thought process most go through with a pivotal question; what the hell can I do today to keep fully occupied? There are very real consequences of these repetitive daily quandaries and there is increasing evidence of people not coping as mental illnesses climb and keep psychiatrists very busy. Add to that daily cocktail the virus updates and bizarre political events across the world, and it is no surprise our coping mechanisms start to buckle.

The WHO has finally been convinced by a group of eminent scientists that Covid-19 could be spread by way of airborne transmission. This is a scary reality and the statement issued reads as flows: “The possibility of airborne transmission in public settings – especially in very specific conditions, crowded, closed, poorly ventilated settings that have been described, cannot be ruled out.” One wonders at the logic or rather, lack of it, in the Command Councils latest set of edicts, one of which, allows the taxi industry to operate at 100 percent occupancy. If ever there was a perfect environment for the spread of this virus, it has to be a fully laden South African taxi. And there are thousands of them careering around the country at any given point in time. Looking behind the “logic” this has everything to do with the destructive nature of the taxi industry which would have revolted if any tougher restrictions were imposed. And of course, the ANC wants to keep the masses voting for them, so don’t rock the boat!

Casting an eye around the world, it is ironic that the President of Brazil, who casually stated that it was “just a little flu”, refused to wear a mask and went around shaking hands, has tested positive. At the same time his poor leadership has propelled the country to second place in terms of total infections and close to 70,000 deaths. In times of peril, strong and purposeful leadership is critically important. Donald Trump pretty much trashed this virus when it first emerged and he has consistently chosen not to wear a mask and sent out waves of irrational and conflicting comments on how to deal with it. Is it any wonder that America is secure in top spot with 3.25 million confirmed cases and 134,392 deaths as of 13^th July?

South Africa is undoubtedly in the eye of the storm with 264,184 confirmed cases and 3,971 deaths. It is the daily rate of increase which is alarming along with what is clearly a serious lack of hospital infrastructure to deal with what is now unravelling. The President, missing in action for weeks, suddenly felt compelled to deliver an update yesterday announcing the re-introduction of a night time curfew, banning alcohol sales and distribution and as mentioned, acceding to the power of the taxi industry which on its own will ensure infections multiply exponentially. On the business front, there remains a story of wide spread carnage across the economy and all the talk (which our so-called political leaders are especially gifted in) is now on what can and needs to be done to “save the economy.” There is a perverse irony here in the sense that the political establishment which had been largely responsible pre-Covid-19 for destroying our economy are now entrusted with fixing it. One of the good news stories emerging for businesses is that the insurance industry will be compelled to pay their clients for business interruption caused by the virus and lockdown regulations. The insurers were doing their utmost to take away the umbrella meant to protect against a rainy day.

There are some truly crazy things happening in America at this time. There is a terrible fear in the workplace and society at large for saying the “wrong thing.” It is truly bizarre and by way of example, I guess if you disagreed with a statue being toppled, you could be at risk of abuse or worse. There seems to be a purge of free thinking and only one side of an issue is accepted. If one posts #alllives matter, there are likely to be repercussions. Corporate America is running scared and many openly proclaim support for rioters and protestors with websites suitably “retooled” to suit. They simply do not want to be pressured socially or politically. One wonders if there is any thought about the origins and purpose of what gave birth to the destruction of historical sites, massive protests which morph into wide scale looting and the scars being gouged into society at large. There are reports that this movement was started by self-described Marxists with one of it stated goals being the destruction of the nuclear family. Sounds dramatic? The jury is out but there are increasing black voices in America articulating the undeniable facts around the extent of broken families and the millions of young people who grow up without a family unit to shape their lives. The consequences are visible; lawlessness, crime, jail and aligning with the movement sweeping across the country. Throw in an election in November and desperate “tactics” by both Republican and Democratic supporters and it really does not look promising.

A new word: CORONACOASTER; the ups and downs of a pandemic. One day you’re loving your bubble, doing work outs, baking banana bread and going for long walks and the next you’re crying, drinking gin for breakfast and missing people you don’t even like.”

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Photos

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A typist at her work station in 1918.

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Spanish Flu time haircut out in the open.

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I Sydney, Australia, nurses get ready for transport to their hospital.

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A grim scene from the Spanish flu era. Schools, city halls and the like were converted to field hospitals.

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We can't fix or run basic healthcare so why not introduce NHS.

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Grandson, Benjamin Mallett, back at School wearing his mask and drawing that horrible little spiky virus thing.

Comments

[Jolina Esorena]

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Very interesting, good job and thanks for sharing such a good blog. Lots of useful info here.

[Timgray]

Covid-19
Thanks for your message. As a matter of interest where do you live?