14 minute read
Yehuda Segal (Postgraduate Student
YEHUDA SEGAL Postgraduate Student
Through the COVID-19 virus we are seeing new divisions and conversely new partnerships, at both the level of the local and the global. The pandemic is interrupting the ease of trade and connectivity and the reciprocity between countries, which is of such benefit to trade and economic growth. It is also a phenomenon, that in reverse, nations are cooperating: - to some extent pooling their medical knowledge, with collective effort to find a vaccine, rather than competitive secrecy in medical research. The real effects and outcomes that the novel coronavirus will have on the world will only be understood in time. This essay will explore the changes we are seeing now; the new norms of society and societal behaviour, as well the impact it is having across the world. It will also discuss the actions and responses to the pandemic, and comment on the way it has affected the use of spaces from an architectural and urban viewpoint. The use of references will be made clear where necessary, however new information is available almost daily, and this represents a challenge for academic writing in a context where source material is quickly made obsolete. For the most part, the writing will describe the pandemic’s effect on my own experience, both directly and indirectly.
History of pandemics From the onset, the images seen in many people’s minds were most likely those of former pandemics and epidemics – Ebola2, Spanish Flu3, MERS4, SARS5, and even the Black Death – more commonly referred to as The Plague or simply Plague6 . During the Middle Ages, this bacterial disease killed millions of people in Europe and Asia, devastating both people and animals, destroying entire towns and villages. Europeans
were not equipped for the terrible reality of the Black Death. The Black Death was terrifyingly, indiscriminately contagious and pernicious. People who were perfectly healthy when they went to bed at night could be dead by morning.
Doctors refused to see patients; priests refused to administer the last rites; and shopkeepers closed their stores. Many people fled the cities for the countryside, but the plague struck down livestock as well as people. One of the consequences of the Black Death was a European wool shortage. Desperate to save themselves, many people even abandoned sick and dying loved ones.
In the Venetian-controlled port city of Ragusa officials were able to slow its spread by keeping arriving sailors in isolation until it was clear they were not carrying the disease —creating social distancing that relied on isolation to slow the spread of the disease. Sailors were at first held on their ships for 30 days (a trentino), a period that was later increased to 40 days, or (a quarantino) —the origin of the term. The advent of modern sanitation and public-health practices has greatly mitigated the impact of the disease.
Past pandemics spread due to the extensive trade routes stretching between Europe and Asia, and today, the global trade and tourism industry sees the transport of millions of people and goods across the world. This makes containing a pandemic that much more difficult – even with the advancement of medical and scientific knowledge; especially when the virus has not been identified before. Plague during the Middle Ages influenced the design of cities and the management of spaces. Walled cities or citadels had gates that could be shut, allowing for the isolation of citizens.
Currently diseases spread across the globe with facility due to the speed and frequency of travel. The Media have kept us informed with a medical jargon, reassuringly academic in tone, and somewhat removed from our own dayto-day experience. I live with an elderly grandmother and a mother both of whom suffer from comorbidities. Every time I go out to do the shopping for the house, I am putting myself, and by extension, both of them at risk of being infected by the virus. The stress and anxiety as a result of this is overwhelming. Finding the motivation to be productive during times such as these, is extremely difficult.
Reaction to the Pandemic
The facts of the virus are provided via media outlets,
influencing public perceptions. Akin to a ‘father figure’, the President addresses us– speaking to the Nation and often releasing the latest figures in weekly broadcasts.
Reaction has ranged from panic buying of toilet paper to the stock-piling of soap and sanitisers. The public has reacted with alarm. Prior to the outbreak, people enjoyed leisure- shopping which was both light-hearted and acquisitive. With many shops closed for the time being, recreational spending is not an option and society has developed a greater awareness of hygiene. The virus is reshaping attitudes towards our needs in addition to our spending behaviour, resulting in the realisation that the living of a more simple life has its own rewards.
Conspiracy theories have multiplied. Theories on the possible origin of the virus, questioning its zoonotic source or positting its creation in a Chinese laboratory; questioning the mode of transmission, postulating that a radio wave- particularly 5G- is responsible for the spread of infection. Obviously, the thought that a virus or bacteria created in a lab is possible, particularly with modern-day knowledge and understanding of diseases, has been a longtime concern and fear with visions of catastrophic biowarfare.
South Africa acted promptly and sternly to institute a lockdown. We have been forced to consider the difference between important activities and those unnecessary to our daily survival. The hard crackdown on the sale of substances during the lockdown- alcohol and cigarettes - has been met with illegal activities and bootlegging, but also with opposition from numerous local bodies and organisations.
The consequence of the pandemic counters current trends of globalization; the advent of travel has transformed our experiences of proximity, reducing the globe in size. But now, planes have been grounded and world events canceled.
The result of the current crisis – much like the experiences of war and disaster is that everything is altered. As human beings we tend to establish comfort zones, daily habits and rituals. We are now forced to revisit many of our favourite assumptions. There is uncertainty, a fear of the unknown. These changing circumstances are testing the relationships of individuals, family, friends, and the larger community, altering different societal experiences.
The psychological, emotional or physical effects on people
will have taken its toll. Couples will possibly find living together, or being apart, a challenge, while parents will struggle to deal with their children – who require attention – while trying to balance work and household chores. People who live alone may find it difficult. The lockdown also regulates that any exercise outside one’s home, is severely restricted. The constraints on physical activity, which is shown in many studies to be a great way to cope with stress, will ultimately affect people’s sense of wellbeing.
Healthcare workers are overburdened and run a greater risk of being infected with the virus. They are afraid, and there is an added stain for their own mental health. A healthcare worker abroad took her own life so as not to infect others after discovering she was herself infected7 .
Public spaces are now often deserted and sightings of animal and wildlife movements have delighted people as well as the improved air quality and beautiful skies.
As human beings we have an innate need for social connection and interaction: to form relationships with others. Most religions see gatherings as an important aspect of the practice and observances, whether during prayer, festivals or holy days, or on occasions such as weddings or funerals. I am Jewish, and I have observed holidays and Shabbat throughout my life. In Judaism, a pivotal aspect involved in observance, is synagogue attendance on Shabbat and Festivals. This is temporarily not possible, and people are required to pray and observe in their homes. in weekly broadcasts.
On many festivals and Shabbats, people host guests, yet now, even family is required to self-isolate. During this pandemic, the Jewish holiday of Pesach8 was observed. Usually, it is observed by attending services at synagogues, hosting family and friends at the Seder9 and other meals. This year however we were all in isolation, and especially for Orthodox Jews, we were unable to speak with or see family even virtually. On a Jewish holy day such as Shabbat or a festival, part of the observance includes refraining from doing prohibited acts: switching on electrical appliances or cooking. Any form of virtual communication falls into this category. The holiday commemorates the biblical exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. It is a time when freedom to practice our faith is celebrated, yet this year, isolation was imposed.
Funerals are held with precautions such as a limiting of numbers. I attended a funeral
for a great-aunt who passed away and the difficulty in being unable to be there for my grandmother during this time has been hard on the entire family. In Judaism, mourners sit Shiva10 for a week following a funeral and prayers are held at the mourner’s residence where the Kaddish11 is recited. However, self-isolation and social distancing has put a halt to this practice, and on top of the psychological and emotional strain of the crises, grief is the only companion for the mourners.
To contend with the varying psychological and emotional stresses and anxieties relating to the pandemic and its resultant effects on social life, has been difficult for myself. Added to this, the death of my aunt and the inability to be there physically for the family has been an added strain on my mental wellbeing. Dealing with my own mind has been a challenge, particularly in connection to experiencing loneliness while in self-isolation. Obviously we are all facing some of the same problems, but our own minds are sometimes our own worst enemies.
I am naturally an introvert, so being comfortable in social contexts is something I have had to work on, primarily over the last two years. With the lockdown I have not been able to improve my confidence or my social skills.
The Response of the Architectural Profession
As architects and space planners, the world relies on our services to design many various building typologies. Currently, once fully occupied commercial buildings were packed with office workers and today, many of these are standing almost empty as a result of social distancing and self-isolation. In contrast, hospitals and healthcare service providers are struggling to meet the demand for their spaces, and, the shortage of beds per infected patient is a problem the world over. This is of particular concern with intensive care units, which is where many patients requiring hospitalisation – due to the severity of the virus – need to be hospitalised, many with ventilators to assist in their breathing.
Locally this is a big issue, and the disproportionate number of beds in relation to expected patient numbers is frightening. Also, the imbalance in the public healthcare system in comparison to the private system is another concern. Hospitals are the ultimate breeding ground for any disease, no matter the extents of sanitary precautions taken, as the close proximity of medical workers to patients increases the likelihood of
further transmission.
How can architects inform and change the way healthcare spaces are used and made adaptable? What can be done to ensure the better use of spaces and the more welcoming environment of hospitals and clinics, so as to promote the healing process of patients, but also the happiness of healthcare workers? What can be done to ensure spaces are able to promote social distancing and self-isolation without causing mental issues in countless individuals and almost halting the economic growth of a country entirely? It was reported a few weeks back that in China- albeit for a limited time – the rate of transmission slowed and locally-transmitted cases had stopped for a while as a result of the drastic measures put in place to halt the spread of disease. New reports indicate that New Zealand has just about ‘eliminated’ Covid-19 as the result of strict lockdown measures taken over the last
few weeks12 . Currently, various designers and architects have proposed a number of interesting solutions to combating this pandemic. Such ideas as designer masks and the increase in available space for intensive care units have been widely reported. Italian architects Carlo Ratti and Italo Rota have designed an intensive-care pod within a shipping container that could be added to hospitals fighting the coronavirus pandemic13 .
One start-up known as Jupe,
has designed an easilytransported pop-up hospital.14 Initially intended for use as shelters in times of disaster, the designers say that these pods can be reconfigured for various uses. China was also praised for its 10-day construction of a new hospital to provide an additional 1000 beds at an earlier stage of the pandemic.15 In a variety of other situations, public buildings and spaces have been converted into makeshift ‘hospitals’, and the institution of drive-through testing stations has made the process of carrying out large scale testing easier on healthcare systems. Volkswagen has made its Port Elizabeth plant available as a temporary medical facility during this crisis16 .
Homes are likely to be viewed differently, especially due to the new reality of the manner in which we now use our spaces. Elements such as natural ventilation and sunlight penetration into spaces are important. The use of mechanically recirculated air is one way of ensuring the continuity of a disease. Consideration of material use is also important in future, as the current virus has the ability to remain on different surfaces for varying lengths of time.
Economic Repercussions
Apocalyptic images come to mind when one thinks of the outcome once the coronavirus comes under control. According to reports in South Africa, there is a strong possibility of anywhere from 370 00017 to 1 000 00018 job losses, thus having a devastating effect on the economy- but mainly on those who will be left unemployed at the end of the day. The way in which economies will recover remains to be seen.
Conclusion
Historical pandemic outbreaks help in the understanding of and the way prevention measures are put in place during times of crisis. The fear associated with the unknown is naturally a result of the uncertainty and panic which prevails in society at such a time. All people are affected by the outbreak, be it directly or indirectly, and the loss of life due to the disease is thought provoking.
This pandemic will change the world physically, psychologically and economically in ways we cannot foretell. If anything is to be determined from this and considered, it is how we can ensure that the “new normal” will enable a return to a reality where we are more “human” – more grateful for the lives we have and the people who surround us, because no one is guaranteed to live a lengthy life, especially not during such uncertain times.
Endnotes: 1 https://www.history.com/topics/ middle-ages/pandemics-timeline 2 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare and deadly disease in people and nonhuman primates. https:// www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.html 3 The 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian origin. https://www.cdc.gov/ flu/pandemic-resources/1918pandemic-h1n1.html 4 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome; an illness caused by a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). https:// www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/ 5 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus called SARSassociated coronavirus (SARSCoV). https://www.cdc.gov/sars/ 6 The Black Death was a devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that struck Europe and Asia in the mid-1300s. https:// www.history.com/topics/middleages/black-death 7 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ news/2020/03/25/italian-nursecommits-suicide-another-683people-die-coronavirus/ 8 Jewish term for the Passover festival. http://english. oxforddictionaries.com/Pesach 9 a Jewish ritual service and ceremonial dinner for the first night or first two nights of Passover. http://english.oxforddictionaries. com/Seder 10 a period of seven days’ formal mourning for the dead, beginning immediately after the funeral. http://english.oxforddictionaries. com/shiva 11 An ancient Jewish prayer sequence regularly recited in the synagogue service, including thanksgiving and praise and concluding with a prayer for universal peace; a form of the Kaddish recited for the dead. http://english.oxforddictionaries. com/Kaddish 12 https://edition.cnn. com/2020/04/28/asia/newzealand-coronavirus-outbreakelimination-intl-hnk/index.html 13 https://www.dezeen. com/2020/03/24/shippingcontainer-intensive-care-unitscoronavirus-covid-19-carlo-ratti/ 14 https://www.fastcompany. com/90486733/these-pop-uphospital-rooms-are-designed-tohelp-increase-the-capacity-totreat-coronavirus-patients 15 https://www.archdaily. com/933080/china-completeshospital-in-10-days-to-fightwuhans-coronavirus 16 https://www.timeslive.co.za/ motoring/news/2020-05-05volkswagen-to-convert-pe-plantinto-temporary-covid-19-medicalfacility/ 17 https://businesstech.co.za/news/ business/387987/coronavirusshock-could-lead-to-over-370000job-losses-in-south-africa-reservebank/ 18 https://www.fin24.com/Economy/ South-Africa/coronavirus-sabusiness-alliance-expects-1-millionjob-losses-economy-to-contractby-10-20200414
We would like to extend our appreciation to all staff and students that submitted essays for the “Reflections on COVID-19: Social Distancing and Self-Isolation” call for papers. While some entries may not have been included in this collection, we thank all the contributors and acknowledge them below:
Ally Kotty, Sumaiyah Boshoff, Natasha Burkimsher, Kady Croker, Justine Durman, Jonathan Faboye, Samson Felix, Sandra Gaule, Sally Gibbon, Declan Gwebu, Nomonde Harris, Charna Harvey, Liam Ingham, Arabella Koti, Buhlebenkosi Maake, Mosima Mabhachi, Britney Mare, Alexander Master, Milan Mathane, Tlou Phillemon Mathibela, Nonhlanhla Modiba, Jeffrey Msipha, Langelihle Muzanenhamo, Chido Naran, Joshil Ndovela, Mfundo Ngidi, Smangaliso Norton-esau, Roxanne Ntsoane, Kopano Odhiambo, Noel Ohlson De Fine, Tammy-lee Pasurayi, Sihle Pieterse, Sinead Pillay, Sarita and Maina, Miriam Ravele, Mutondi Segal, Amy Segal, Yehuda Shange, Thabiso Todes, A., Harrison, P. and Rubin, M
