SOCIAL IMPACTS OF PANDEMICS

Years ago, I taught “Medical Sociology” at a liberal arts college and at Kirkwood College, “Intro. To Sociology- Medical” Actual medical terms and strategies were omitted because I did not have the medical training. Pandemics are worst case scenarios as they are invisible and torturous. Thus, the social, economic and political changes are part of the course in “Medical Sociology.”

We talked about the other aspects of medical impacts on a community and society. The Week (5/29/2020:11-12) has summarized most of them. They historically recorded all the plagues in history. The first was in 430 BC and the last was the “Spanish Flu” killing 50 million worldwide about a century ago. Others have been more quickly terminated.

On a personal level, increased impersonal sex emerges, as well as alcohol and recreational drugs, and increased religiosity. It also changed social interaction and the way we work. Of course, this terrifying pathology couples itself to numerous specific historic events from the demise of Sparta to the rise of fascism. Modern Capitalism was a spinoff of the collapse of Feudalism and serfdom.

So what we don’t know is what lies ahead? The odds are not necessarily good, but it may surprise us as did a pandemic encouraging the rise of hospitals?

On the other hand, social curse is with us now. hates testing for the virus which could greatly decrease along with other strategies the number of deaths in the United States. He leads a country that has 5% of the global population and one-third (33%) of the known cases of this COVID .19 virus. Perception can triumph over reality. He sees the death rate like that of television ratings and the stock market.

So what is objective truth for this pandemic?

Joel Snell

Emeritus Professor

Kirkwood College

319-366-0063

joelsnell@hotmail.com

Apple wood Hills

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

52402-5513