While COVID-19 has changed all of our lives, we are not the first generation to go through it. Just over 100 years ago, one third of the worlds population had the Spanish Influenza. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports an estimated at least 50 million people died from the disease.
This got me thinking, if a pandemic of the same caliber had already happened once in history, how did they go about their daily lives in comparison to how we are all coping now?
After digging up some photos from the 1918 Spanish Influenza, I realized I was looking at a part of history while also living through a new part of history: the next global pandemic, COVID-19, or, that weird looking image of something I know is related to science.
I knew then that I wanted to document the current pandemic, by comparing it to the last pandemic, showcasing how humans have adapted or reacted the same throughout history, hence the title, "Pandemic Time Capsule."
By re-creating the Spanish Influenza era photos in the COVID-19 era, maybe the next journalism student in another 100 years will be curious enough to stumble upon this multi-media piece and continue contributing to the time capsule.
Similar to a "spot the difference game," where you get to hear people telling their stories:
Five women wearing masks, sitting on their porch holding two cats, Penelope and Golly, who are also wearing masks because they could get the Spanish Flu. It was unsure if they could pass it on to humans, 1918. (Credit: Dan Eskenzai/News Dog)
The Ahmed family all stuck at home, together, for the first time in a long time. Either working or schooling online, their social bubble includes their 2 indoor cats Oliver and Korra, 2020. (Photo by Nairah Ahmed)
Nuns were asked to help those struck by the influenza after the Red Cross sent out a warning that there was a shortage of nurses, 1918. (Credit: Paul Thompson/FPG, via Getty Images)
Jessica Lefebvre is a recent graduate in which the pandemic actually jump-started her career, 2020. (Photo taken by Jessica Lefebvre)
Click above to hear Nurse Jessica Lefebvre's Story.
Graves of 100 soldiers who died because of the Influenza in Devon, England, 1918. (Credit: National Archive)
Camilla Care Community in Mississauga, Ontario has laid out 50 crosses for the residents who lost their lives to COVID-19, 2020. (Photo by Nairah Ahmed)
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A typist wears a mask while working at her office desk during the Spanish Flu, 1918. (Credit: National Archive)
Junaid Ahmed, writer and teacher has been advised to stay-at-home due to COVID-19. He has found his own ways to stay sane and creative, 2020. (Photo by Nairah Ahmed)
Click Above to hear Junaid Ahmed's Story.
Anti-Spitting sign posted on streetcar in Philadelphia, October 1918. (Credit:Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia)
Mandatory face coverings sign on a Mississauga city transit bus, 2020. (Photo by Nairah Ahmed)
Court held in open air, San Francisco 1918. (Credit: Bettmann / Bettmann Archive)
A screenshot of the court proceedings virtual waiting room on Zoom, 2020.(Photo by Nairah Ahmed)
Click above to hear Deputy Judge David Dwoskin's Story.
Don Hoover and Joe Sistrunck of Starke, Florida, headed to school during the flu outbreak in 1918. (Credit: Florida Memory/State Archives of Florida)
Shahnoor, 10 and Shahmeer Rafiq, 12, attending in-person learning during COVID-19, 2020. (Photo by Nairah Ahmed)
Click above to hear Shahnoor Rafiq's story.
Click above to hear Shahmeer Rafiq's story.
University of Montana Physics class, classes were held outdoors during the Influenza, 1919. (Credit:National Archive)
Civil engineering student Mikhail Mapp attending his virtual university lectures, 2020.(Photo by Nairah Ahmed)
Click above to hear Mikhail Mapp's Story.
Adding to the time Capsule
While reflecting on the past pandemic, it's important to add to the time capsule. Who knows, maybe in 100 years people will be comparing and contrasting COVID-19 stories to the new pandemic.
High school student Eeshah Rafiq, 16, has opted to learn online instead of in-person. Not the High School Musical movie finish she'd imagined, 2020. (Photo by Nairah Ahmed)
Click above to hear Eeshah Rafiqs' story.
Joshua Mapp, 20, never got to walk across the stage to get his diploma. Instead Humber College sent him a package to celebrate the completion of his post-secondary education, 2020. (Photo by Nairah Ahmed)
Click above to hear Joshua Mapp' story.
The housing market has changed because of the pandemic- sales are up and people wanna buy, 2020. (Photo by Nairah Ahmed)
Click above to hear real estate agent Ciro Napolitano's take on how the housing market has changed because of the pandemic.
Mississauga hospital, Credit Valley creates appointment only drive thru testing spots for COVID-19 to ensure the social distancing guidelines are being adhered to, 2020 (Photo by Nairah Ahmed).
Rina Walia, 20, allows you into her home, sharing how COVID-19 has affected her family, 2020. (Photo by Nairah Ahmed)
Click above to hear Rina Walia's story.
Although COVID-19 doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon, it feels good knowing that the Spanish Influenza is just a distant time in history.
"This too shall pass." - Edward Fitzgerald
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