* George Washington was dealing with smallpox which kills 20—30 % of those infected. * Quarantines have been used since the middle ages and they were used agai

* George Washington was dealing with smallpox which kills 20—30 % of those infected. * Quarantines have been used since the middle ages and they were used against people showing symptoms or groups of people likely to have the disease. We haven't had quarantines with covid. We've shut down society as a whole.