Follow Up to My Times Square Post

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I have mixed feelings about allowing crowds to gather for the New Year in New York. Even though, I live in Texas and have no plans to attend. It sort of bothers me because a lot of people who are IN New York that time of the year come from EVERYWHERE!! Being quarantined is no fun. When I was a kid I had to be quarantined. My brother and I both had the measles. You would think a kid would be happy to have a legitimate excuse to stay home from school. But I wasn't and I was glad when it was over!! I started wondering about the medical science behind quarantines and how long quarantine periods have lasted for certain contagious diseases. I found this detailed paper titled: “Quarantine Through History”. It's fascinating reading and for me, there are 2 takeaways. “Quarantine may be defined as the restraint or segregation of human beings or other living creatures, who may have come, either potentially or actually, into contact with transmissible pathologies, until the moment when it is considered certain that they no longer constitute a health risk.” OK. That makes sense. “The history of quarantine paradoxically indicates that people do not learn enough from history itself.” OK. That does NOT make sense. Here's the thing. This article mentions outbreaks that I had completely forgotten about like SARS and Avian flu. That has to be WHY we don't learn. WE FORGET!