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SF Had the 1918 Flu Under Control. Then It Lifted Restrictions

A possible lesson from history. Just over 100 years ago, SF struggled with a similar dilemma.
By - posted 4/28/2020 No Comment

Thanks to NBC News for reminding us about the 1918 San Francisco flu and the possible danger of celebrating too early and lifting restrictions too soon.

Over 100 years ago, San Francisco officials ordered everyone to wear face masks and banned public gatherings amid soaring Spanish Flu infections. The restrictions seemed to work and the numbers of cases and fatalities fell within weeks.

After just four weeks, the city’s politicians decided to lift the ban. Unfortunately, the flu rebounded three weeks after that and led to a longer outbreak than the first one, causing lockdown measures to be put back in place to public outrage.

A prolonged second wave saw more cases and deaths than the first.

Read the full story of SF’s 1918 Flu via Influenza Archive

While some may already be aware of this cautionary tale and for those who are not,  this is the best time to read about the 1918 San Francisco flu. How San Francisco’s deaths more than doubled in a second peak and the dangers of lifting lockdown too soon. 

In the present Coronavirus pandemic, with the current chart showing San Francisco “Crushing the Curve”, is it time to lift the shelter in place order? Or should we keep things going? Our decisions may end up being a lesson for San Francisco 100 years from now.