The big news was that Germany agreed to the US peace proposal.  Coverage of the pandemic moved to the front page of the paper.  It was now recommended that everyone was to wear a mask to prevent the spread of the epidemic. This was in part because of an acute shortage of doctors and nurses. So the call was to not overwhelm the health system.

In Rochester, there were 471 news cases with a total of 1,119 cases, which was thought to the about one-third of the true cases.  There were 5 more deaths bringing the total to 22 in October.

All churches, saloons, hotel bars, club rooms, soda fountains, and ice cream parlors were now ordered closed as of midnight on 10/12/1918.

Considerable interest was expressed in Rochester over the “cure” offered from Dr. Roby in Pittsburgh.  Camphor was in high demand as there was a belief that strong odor could ward off the disease.

Bishop Thomas F. Hickey endorsed the closing of the churches and encouraged social distancing.

 

© words by Dan DeMarle 4/24/2020