This archive report was first published on 8 May 2020.
On May 8, 2020, experts were drawing parallels between the COVID-19 pandemic and the 1630 Great Plague of Lombardy, which spread from abroad to the densely populated region of Italy.
Tom Mwiraria noted that social-distancing measures were introduced during the 1630 Great Plague, with fear being the greatest motivator in overcoming the plague. He suggested that people could learn from this experience by adopting measures such as sterilizing coins and taking other precautions.
Meanwhile, in the tech world, Alnashir Walji was concerned that the increasing use of technology could lead to robots taking over all the jobs, resulting in more redundancies. He urged people to discuss the pros and cons of this new tech world, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Margaret Anunda was appalled at the misuse of technology, particularly the abuse of virtual meeting platforms. She suggested that people should only use these platforms for necessary meetings, respecting family time and avoiding unnecessary gatherings.
Henry Lisege, a resident of Nakuru, was unhappy with MultiChoice pay TV service DStv, which was short-changing customers by not providing a stable signal during bad weather. He suggested that the company should use the same technology on the app to ensure the signal is available regardless of the weather or restructure their pay system into bundles.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to learn from the past and adopt measures that can help combat the crisis.
