Martin Luther had this to say during the bubonic plague:
“You ought to think this way: “Very well, by God’s decree, the enemy has sent us poison and deadly offal.
Therefore, I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it.
I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.
If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others.
If my neighbor needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person, but will go freely.”
(former) MISSIONARY MUSINGS 