COVID in Historical Perspective – May 11
Join the York County History Center and the York County Economic Alliance on Monday, May 11 at 5 PM for a conversation with Dr. Scott Knowles, chair of the history department at Drexel University and author of The Disaster Experts: Mastering Risk in Modern America.
COVID-19 is changing daily life for people around the world, but outbreaks of disease are nothing new. Throughout history, humanity has endured countless viral pandemics that reshaped society and spurred innovation. Every pandemic differs in symptoms, contagiousness, and severity; ranging from extremely lethal diseases like the Bubonic plague, Smallpox and Ebola Zaire, to paralytic agents like polio and seasonal viruses, such as various strains of Influenza.
With every outbreak, humanity has taken steps to reduce spread of the infection. From quarantines and isolation, to treatment and vaccination, we have coped with pandemics and discovered cures to prevent recurrence. The toll of each has been catastrophic in its own way, but all have resulted in the loss of life, changes in social interaction, and economic recession.
On Monday, May 11 at 5 PM the York County History Center and the York County Economic Alliance will co-host a Zoom discussion with Dr. Scott Knowles, chair of the history department at Drexel University and author of The Disaster Experts: Mastering Risk in Modern America. Dr. Knowles will discuss the current COVID crisis from a historical perspective and how it relates to pandemics and other disasters of the past.
He will also facilitate a conversation with Dr. Adam Bentz (Assistant Director of Library & Archives, York County History Center), Dr. Silas Chamberlin (Vice President of Economic Development, York County Economic Alliance), and Craig Walt, MPH (Community Health Services Supervisor, City of York Health Bureau) regarding the current responses to COVID and how pandemics of the past can inform our recovery in York County and across the nation.
The event is free but registration is required.