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Utah Epidemic Begins
The first cases are identified in Salt Lake City. It is believed the disease was brought in by a family visiting from Evanston, Wyoming. The disease spreads very quickly. I found it interesting that they gave some details about the family that brought in the disease, but very few other details. How do they determine useful details from details that would serve no purpose? -
Utah Soldiers Felled By Flu
The global epidemic affected Utah as well as the local epidemic. Soldiers posted in other states died of the flu. Louis Rowe and Allen Remington died in military forts across the country. Jess Oren Thatcher was critically ill in Massachusetts. The global epidemic affected Utah as well as the local epidemic. They were not isolated in their small Utah-bubble. -
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Utah Spanish Flu Epidemic
At the end of WWI, the globe suffered under an international flue epidemic. This flu, dubbed the Spanish, spread to Utah. Tens of thousands died. -
Utah Officials Consider Banning Public Funerals
With 63 deaths in Utah and counting, officials in Utah consider banning public funerals in order to hinder the spread of the disease. Coalville seems to be the area of Utah hardest hit by the epidemic. -
New York Cinema's Close
Cinema's in New York agree not to release any new films from October 13 through November 9th to help avoid spreading the contagion. -
Statewide Precautions to Stop the Disease
When citizens of Cedar City returned from attending the LDS General Conference and the state fair in Salt Lake City, several people had contracted the disease. State officials declared Salt Lake City a "closed city", banning a variety of public gatherings. Other cities are encouraged to discourage public gatherings and instructed to close their cities at the first sign of infection. By October 15, the worst is over. This is the height of the disease. -
Spitless Days
It was made illegal to spit on the street or on streetcars. Those caught were to be arrested and fined $1. The variety of attempts made to stop the spread of the disease are fascinating. From closing public areas, enforcing masks while treating the sick, and 'spitless days', they are trying everything to end the crisis. -
Officials Demand More Precautions
As the epidemic continued, officials decided the embargo on public gatherings was not enough. Pamphlets were sent out describing symptoms, coughers and sneezers were ordered to stay out of the public, and an emergency hospital was set up in Bingham. While ten people died in Utah the day before, the epidemic in Utah is not as bad as in Boston. The week before, Boston lost 991 people.
The disparity between Boston and Philadelphia, which lost only 399, is striking. -
Flu Masks
The Red Cross begins employing gauze masks while treating Spanish Flu patients. Another attempt to stop the spread of the flu. This practice sticks around. -
Ban on Sales
Dr. Beatty bans department stores from having sales. Sales encourage people to gather in large groups, allowing the disease to spread more easily. By stopping the sales, the disease will be less likely to spread. -
Teachers Feed the Ill
Many families were unable to care for themselves while down with the flu. Because of the flu, schools were closed. Many of the teachers volunteered to help care for those afflicted by preparing food in the school kitchens and distributing it to families. I admire these teachers for braving the possibility of contracting the flu in order to help the families in their areas. -
Schools
School were closed in Ogden early during the epidemic. However, on this date the newspaper reports that school will most likely reopen in two weeks. Unlike other articles, this one says nothing about the health board. This claim that schools will reopen seems to lack the support of the health department. Are they making the claim to make a show of normalcy? -
Teachers Urged to Volunteer
As teachers who volunteered as nurses become ill through the flu or exhaustion, the SLC superintendent urges more teachers to volunteer. The flu doesn't seem to be getting drastically worse, but it isn't getting better. Nurses are still needed. In this instance, the request for volunteers is very respectful. There is no name calling, etc. This will change overnight. Possibly because not enough teachers responded to this call. Maybe for other reasons. -
Teachers Called Slackers
While the schools were closed in SLC, 735 teachers were without work. They received their pay, though. The Red Cross asked for volunteer nurses. Only 100 teachers volunteered. The rest of the female teachers who didn't volunteer were labeled as slackers. It bothers me that the men are not expected to volunteer. One would think that during an emergency, the gender of the nurse would be less important. -
The Beginning of the End
The epidemic is starting the disappear. One new case has been reported. Only one person died from the disease on this day. The emergency Red Cross hospital is preparing to close. This is less than a month from when the epidemic started. Although they said this was the beginning of the end, November 21st the disease was still going strong. Propaganda to lift moral? Did they actually think this was the end? -
Report Or Face Prosecution
As the epidemic continued, health officials realized that the continued spread was influenced by those with the disease but who refused to remove themselves from the public. Anyone with the disease was required to report immediately to the board. I find it interesting that they are only requiring this a month into the epidemic. Might it have been brought under control sooner if this policy had been in place from the beginning? -
Inoculation Begins
The state offered free inoculation from this day forward in the hopes of helping end the epidemic more quickly. A month ago, "the beginning of the end" was declared. However, at this point the disease still seems to be raging throughout the state. -
LDS Church Fasts for Global Relief
The presidency of the Mormon church calls for all members of the church to fast and pray for global relief from the epidemic. -
Ogden Cinema Reopen
The Ogden cinemas reopened after being closed for ten weeks. This occurs about two months after 'the beginning of the end'. They were off in their estimate, but things did improve in the third month of the epidemic. -
Restrictions Lifted
All restrictions placed during the epidemic were lifted. There were still a few cases of Spanish flu throughout the state. However, levels were manageable. Schools were required to operate under an extended schedule to make up for the weeks of closure. Teachers can return to work.
