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Utah Prepares for the Spanish Influenza
State and city health boards held several emergency sessions in the capital to discuss the Spanish Influenza epidemic spreading throughout the country. They debated strategies for dealing with the flu if it spread throughout Utah.
At this point the disease had already begun to infect Utah citizens. It is clear in hindsight that drastic and immediate action was required instead of scheduling and holding additional meetings that produced little to act on. -
Influenza Spreads Rapidly
The number of reported Spanish Influenza cases and deaths soars. The Mayor of Coalville becomes sick with the flu. In an effort to slow the spread of the disease, public funerals are banned and the Red Cross begins quarantining sick patients. These are solid steps taken that likely saved many lives. -
Motion Picture Theaters Closed
In an effort to prevent the spread of the disease, the state government ordered the closing of all movie theaters. This article is indicative of other changes that were likely happening at this time. The government would have been shutting down many public places where the flu could spread. -
Schools Closed as Flu Spreads to Cedar City
Schools and other public gathering sites were closed in Cedar City in order to prevent the spread of the flu. By this time the Spanish Flu had swept throughout the state. The flu had spread throughout the state and the local governments were smart to close schools and other public places. -
Spanish Flu Reported Throughout the State
Many cases of the Spanish Flu were reported in Salina and Richfield. All public places, gatherings and activities closed/cancelled. Medical physicians strongly urge complete bed rest for the afflicted. Closing these venues and cancelling these events would also help to reduce mass panic. -
Special Hospital Opened to Treat Flu Victims
Judge-Mercy Hospital opened to 150 patients afflicted with the Spanish Influenza. The renovations were carried out in record time to increase the hospitals capacity from 30 to 150. Local governments consider stricter quarantine measures to stop the flu's spread. Amazing how quickly they prepped this building for more patients. -
Teachers Help Massive Effort to Care for Afflicted
The out of work teachers were heavily involved in feeding and caring for the sick. Many risked their own health to serve as nurses, cooks, and other care giving positions. Would have been very dangerous work to be among the sick all day. -
Masks Become Essential for All
The people of Bingham universally began wearing gauze masks in an effort to stop the spreading of the disease. This effort shows an even greater mass effort to stay healthy and prevent contaminating others. -
Businesses Closed as Death Toll Rises
Reports of infected and deaths continue to flood into the government offices. Board of Health reports that the situation is still growing worse. Businesses are closed or severely hampered by the lack of workers. It was a big problem that some businesses were still running because this would be an excellent place for the disease to spread. -
First Signs of Hope Despite Thousands of Afflicted
Ogden Daily Standard reports that 20,000 Utahans are afflicted with Spanish Influenza and the death toll is continuing to rise. First signs of hope according to State Health Commissioner, T. B. Beatty. Many towns through out Utah reporting fewer new cases. Distant light at the end of the tunnel first visible. -
Influenza Waning
Far fewer new cases occurring each day. Government officials begin to loosen quarantines and allow public events to take place once again. Red Cross hospital preparing to close due to lack of patients. Amazing how quickly this flu burned itself out. It came through and infected so many so quickly that once they got over it or died it had nowhere to go. -
Provo Still Affected
Despite progress in other parts of the state, Provo was not seeing the abatement of the flu. Provo officials ordered that masks must be worn at all times in public. The loosening of restrictions likely helped the flu to spread more easily. -
Inoculation Stations Opened to Stop Resurgent Flu
Free inoculation stations were opened up around Salt Lake City in order to inoculate as many people as possible. This was due to the flu not dying off on its own. Again, the flu was allowed to spread again because restrictions were likely dropped too soon. Of course, it would be difficult to maintain such restrictions due to economic losses and morale of the populace. -
Picture Theaters Reopen
With the flu finally truly on the way out, movie theaters and other public places and businesses are all reopened. -
Bans Soon to be Lifted in Provo
All quarantines and restrictions expected to be raised within the week of this publication. Flu must have truly been on its way out. -
Reopening of Schools as Epidemic Ends
With the flu in full abatement, it was announced that public schools would be reopening. After having been closed for so long, it was decided that an extra hour would be added to each day in order to make up for lost time. Schools opening is the true milestone showing that the epidemic was over. Diseases spread so easily between students so they must have had real confidence that the threat was over to reopen them.
