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63 New Cases in Utah
In Utah, especially Coalville, the disease continues to spread rapidly, even hitting the Mayor's house. The suspension of public funerals is considered. The banning of public funerals reveals the serious level of worry about this epidemic. I wonder if there is a specific reason why Coalville was hit so hard. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=14906762#contents
Image Accessed June 13, 2018 http://suu.centuryamerica.org/1913-1919-the-story-of-cedar-city-and-the-bac/1918-1919-the-flu/ -
Theaters Close to Stop the Flu
Nationwide, the motion picture industry, including theaters, slow business in order to curtail the spread of the flu to the public. Actors and actresses are also asked to forego paychecks during this time. Would theaters close today? Would they need to? What other public places could close their doors to stop the spread of infection among our society? https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=18636440 -
Salt Lake City Closure/Flu Reaches Cedar City
After Salt Lake City is deemed a "closed city," all indoor gathering locations and actives are closed and canceled. Post-conference and State Fair visitors return to their hometowns from Salt Lake City with the disease. The warnings and specific note of symptoms in this article are quite frightening and motivating. It is as if every effort in being made to protect the people, those uninfected as well as the infected. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=4206704 -
Richfield Closure
Richfield follows Salt Lake City example, closing all public gather locations and events "of all kinds," noting this as an automatic order "whenever the disease appears." This action, so far away from Salt Lake Cities, stresses the quick spread of the disease--this article cites more than a dozen reported in a single day. The police were specifically involved in closing both entertainment and religious activities during the week. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=9129608 -
Store Sales to Cease
Dr. T.B. Beatty, the Health Chief in Utah, demands that department stores stop baiting buyers of the shelter of their homes with grand sales. This is more evidence of the fear of public interaction in Utah spreading the disease. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=10211534 -
Salt Lake City School Kitchens Prepare Food for the Ill
Schools and school systems, including facilities and instructors, become a part of the solution. Their jobs include preparing and distributing food to the ill. What kind of disaster would have to happen today for us to mobilize school cooking-class kitchens and educators as nurses? Did it seem this bad to the citizens in 1918? Would would respond with the same charity or sense of duty today? -
Ward Teaching Discontinued
In Weber Stake, the flu stops ward visits for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Even religious organizations are attempting to stem the tide of this epidemic by making less contact. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=6958147 -
Infected Homes are Marked
Homes where people have or have had the flu are required to be marked with a placard to protect any who might choose to visit. I wonder, with the closures and the labeling of houses, how terrified the populous might have been at this time. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=6938700
Image from Library of Congress via AP Accessed June 13, 2018 https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/04/the-1918-flu-pandemic-photos-from-a-century-ago/557663/#img20 -
National Plague Waning in Utah
While cases and deaths continue, fewer cases and deaths are reported by the hospitals throughout the state. As a result, the ban on public assemblies in some locations plan to lift. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=14979357 -
Masks Required or Stiff Legal Penalty
In Provo, anyone caught without a mask will be fined or imprisoned. Also all public gatherings (outside of open-air funerals) and all public service gathering is prohibited. These are evidences of the strict measures in use to stop the spread of the disease. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=14895720 -
Sunday Dubbed a Special Day of Prayer and Fasting
The presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cancel public services but ask members on Sunday to pray for the "overthrow of influenza." This reminds me of 9/11, specifically how Americans pulled together patriotically following the attack on our nation. It is almost religious in nature. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=10228425 -
Utah County Quarantines about to Lift
Due to improving conditions, an official announcement to lift the ban in Provo and surrounding cities nears. This was a terrible flu, but it was also relatively short in Utah. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=14899291 -
Salt Lake City Schools to Reopen
All public gatherings are allowed again, and all Salt Lake City quarantines are lifted. School resumes, adding an extra hour to make up for lost time. The return to school makes me wonder about the point of view of the children. Maybe they really wanted to get back to school and friends and fun. Maybe some felt that they were doing all right on an extended vacation, even if stuck at home. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=14890096
