
When It Comes To COVID-19, Let's Have Some Perspective
Updated: May 17, 2020
Perspective – a way to look at something, to think about a situation or problem in a wise and reasonable way. Let’s take this definition and put the current “pandemic” into perspective. To begin this exercise, let’s go back to 1900 and follow the life of an average American named Bill who was born in Providence.

Bill was born at Rhode Island Hospital at a time when the infant mortality rate was an enormous 165 per 1000 births, mainly due to diseases like diphtheria, pertussis, and measles. Despite this number, people did not stop having children or cower in fear. They knew what needed to be done and they did it. Today, these rates are now 6 per 1000 births.