People of COVID-19

A project to show what life looked like in the depths of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Intrigued by the resemblance to the 1918 influenza pandemic, this gallery shows images from both 1918 and 2020: almost 100 years apart yet very similar.

Gathering places nationwide were shut down at the order of public health officials during the 1918 influenza pandemic. (UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health)
Source https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2020/08/06/spanish-flu-1918-pandemic-how-did-it-get-that-name
Niday Picture Library/Alamy
Source - https://www.history.com/news/1918-pandemic-public-health-campaigns
One Oregon newspaper clip reads: "We appeal to your civil patriotism to co-operate with us in our effort to stamp out the Spanish Influenza or "Flu" Plague in Portland by wearing a mask." University of Oregon
Source - https://www.businessinsider.com/people-vintage-mask-ads-spanish-flu-1918-pandemic-2020-5
Don Hoover and Joe Sistrunk of Starke, Florida, are ready for school during the 1918 flu outbreak.
Source - https://www.cbs58.com/news/heres-what-happened-when-students-went-to-school-during-the-1918-pandemic
A New York City letter carrier wears a mask while delivering mail in October 1918. Image: National Archives
Source - https://link.usps.com/2020/05/05/pandemic-parallels/