Hypothetical coronavirus in the 2T

[David Horn]

(03-15-2020, 07:21 PM)Warren Dew Wrote:

(03-15-2020, 09:12 AM)sbarrera Wrote: What if COVID-19 had happened 40 years ago, in 1980? It was the tail end of the 2T/Awakening. What would have been different?

I'm guessing there would not have been as much of a government response in the United States. None of this proactive shutting down of schools and businesses. If would have felt less fearful and more zany.

I think essentially nothing would have happened.  We would have taken no steps in response, and any additional deaths would have been attributed to the flu.

In fact, I'm certain that would have happened, because at the time we didn't have the genetic testing technology to identify specific strains of the flu and coronavirus.  But even with the technology, there would not have been the panic and economy crippling overreaction of today.

Today, the arguments on how to respond are largely red versus blue political arguments.  In the second turning, they would have been generational political arguments.  Boomers would have refused to participate in any measures that wouldn't help them, and would only save a few elderly Lost.

I disagree.  The health professionals of the time would know the difference between a flu virus and a corona virus by inspection.  They may have thought it was a super version of the common cold (at least initially), but they would have attacked the problem head-on.  They may have failed to find a cure, but public health responses were well known.  Think about the response to polio before Jonas Salk.