Drastic Rules To Combat Influenza

• Mayor Baker issued an order yesterday that commands all downtown stores to close at 3:30 PM and all offices to close at 4 PM. The mayor hopes that this order will prevent crowds on streetcars, thereby limiting the spread of influenza and shortening the length of the ban on public gatherings. The order encompasses City Hall. The order goes into effect after Monday, November 4th and will remain in place until otherwise directed. • Health officials and “those directly interested in the closing order” met all day yesterday. They drafted the latest orders and came up with a list of rules to prevent the spread of influenza. • Mayor Baker stated that the conference was not called because there has been a drastic increase in the influenza epidemic. Instead, it was called out of a desire to enact the correct precautions that will shorten the epidemic (and therefore the inconvenience of the closure order) as much as possible. • Mayor Baker: “Preventative measures promulgated at the beginning of the epidemic resulted in Portland suffering less from the illness than any other city of like population in the Nation, and the present step is taken with the view that the sacrifices and loss entailed will be more than compensated by the early ending of the epidemic. In other words, it will save lives, prevent suffering and lessen economic hardships if all of us for a short time do our utmost to stamp out this epidemic than to use only halfway measures over a long period of time.”• Mayor Baker appeals to the public to observe health precautions. • Mayor Baker: “The people will appreciate that the continuance of the epidemic in Portland and other cities in the United States will go far to seriously cripple the output of ships and to otherwise impede in many ways the successful furtherance of the Nation’s war programme. It is not merely a local problem; it is a National question, and as in the past we must work shoulder to shoulder for our mutual interests.”• Mayor Baker claims that statistics prove influenza thrives where people are allowed to gather. • The order that requires employees are released from office buildings at 4:00 PM does not apply to janitors, elevator operators, or “those employed by persons engaged in rendering medical assistance of any kind.”• These rules were decided upon by health authorities and officials at Vancouver Barracks: 1. “All schools, churches, lodges, public places of meetings, and places of amusement shall be closed.2. Avoid crowding at cafeterias or similar places and maintain an interval of at least four feet between individuals. No food must be handled by the public but only by the proper attendants.3. Food exposed for consumption should be protected.4. Where there is sickness in the family, allow but one member to wait on the patient who shall at all times while in contact the patient wear a mask and remove it before they enter the room. The patient shall also be screened by hanging sheet across the room or whatever way is practical. The room shall be kept thoroughly ventilated at all times.5. Consult your physician immediately should your bodily symptoms be in any way below par, as experience has shown that many people are quite ill and yet have symptoms which ordinarily would be disregarded. 6. The public should observe absolutely the recommendations with regard to spitting in public places.7. Avoid needless crowding; influenza is a crowd disease.8. Smother your coughs and sneezes, others do not want the germs which you would throw away.9. Your nose, not your mouth, was made to breathe through—get the habit.10. Remember the three C’s—a clean mouth, clean skin, and clean clothes. 11. Try to keep cool when you walk and walk a great deal for exercise and to maintain bodily vigor. Keep warm when you ride and sleep. 12. Open the windows always at home at night; at the office when practicable.13. Your fate may be in your own hands. Wash your hands before eating. 14. Don’t let the waste product of digestion accumulate—drink a glass or two of water on getting up, before meals, and on retiring. 15. Don’t use a napkin, towel, spoon, fork, glass or cup which has been used by another person and not washed.16. When the air is pure, breathe all of it you can. Breathe deeply.”Newspaper article2