by Kelly Delancy-Fowler
Separating the ill and potentially contagious individuals from the wider population to prevent disease spread is a centuries old practice. The word “quarantine” denotes this separation and restricted movement of individuals exposed to a communicable disease to observe whether symptoms develop. Though formal practice of quarantine dates to 14th century Venice, the earliest known quarantine facilities were leper hospitals converted to lazarettos during the 15th century.
