Lessons Available From 1918 as COVID-19 Restrictions Eased

With Missouri set May 4 to begin easing the restrictions put in place on individuals and business to help slow the spread of COVID-19, it is important to remember that the restrictions are not being eased in all jurisdictions.

Local governments, including counties and cities, such as Greene County and Springfield, can leave, and have left, more restrictive measures in place depending on local needs. Lawrence County also reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 infection over the weekend.

Things will not be returning to normal all at once, if necessarily ever. Fully returning to a more familiar way of doing things will be a slow process. Restrictions will likely vary from community to community based on the public health needs of that particular locale.

Beginning May 4, Missouri will begin gradually lifting stay at home restrictions. Individuals should still stay six feet apart at all times when leaving their homes.

“We will be posting more information soon on what guidelines will be in place as we reopen Dade County,” said Pamela Allen, administrator of the Dade County Health Department. “I know everyone is anxious but this is a process and our main goal is to keep everyone safe! Thanks everyone!”

Health authorities including the DCHD recommend continuing to take safety precautions like covering the mouth and nose with a face mask, frequently washing hands for at least 20 seconds and limiting trips outside the home as much as possible.

More information on the easing of statewide restrictions is available at oneforallmo.com.

Lessons from past epidemics must also be taken to heart, the closest approximation we have being the 1918-19 influenza pandemic.

Amid news of the Great War in Europe and the Liberty Bond drive the first mentions of influenza in 1918 editions of The Greenfield Vedette and The Dade County Advocate was in April, with reports of higher rates of influenza among personnel on military bases.

A warning buried on page 2 of the Oct. 3, 1918 edition of the Vedette, advised Dade County residents that while the so-called “Spanish influenza” was sweeping the east coast, it was not yet too late to to precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, not altogether different from the measures advised to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the present day.

“Persons wishing to avoid the disease should stay out of crowds, or, when that is impossible, should have a clean handkerchief that can be held over the mouth as a mask,” Dr. Dan G. Stine of the University of Missouri School of Medicine was quoted as saying. “Everyone with a cold should be regarded, and should regard himself, with suspicion.”

This was printed while at the same time a headline on the front page proclaimed “Large Crowd Visits Liberty Loan Train,” and the accompanying story reported a crowd of about 3,000 had gathered at the Frisco railroad depot to view exhibits of war materials and combat trophies, encouraging residents to buy into the latest issuance of Liberty Bonds to fund the war effort.

By the next week, Oct. 10, headlines on the front page of The Vedette stated that schools and churches were being closed by the spreading epidemic flu, and advised precautions were now posted on the front as well. However, the larger headline was the cartoon urging residents to contribute to the Liberty Loan effort, accompanied by a report the county was behind in their pledge quota.

The Oct. 17 edition of The Vedette reported that the first infuenza deaths in the county had occurred the previous weekend, one in Greenfield, two in Lockwood, two in South Greenfield, one in Bona, and another among the county’s “colored” residents. The deaths were mostly young adults in their 20s and 30s. Nonetheless, the headline said the epidemic appeared to be “Somewhat Abated.” Greenfield Mayor R.H. Merrill ordered all public gathering places closed for the week. Across the page, readers were informed the county was still $30,000 behind in their Liberty Bond quota, and “Every Effort Must Be Made to Make Up Full Amount This Week.”

The Oct. 24 edition of the Advocate reported four deaths of young people in the Lockwood and Dudenville area, while the Vedette announced seven more in the county, and Mayor Merrill extended his order closing public spaces for another week. Four of the deaths were among the “colored” residents. Many new cases were reported by correspondents from Dade County neighborhoods including Lynn Branch, East Center, Rocky Ridge, Sylvania, Dadeville, Hulston, Emmet, Mt. Zion, Arcola, and Neola, with reports of cases received from Red Oak and Grey’s Point as well. The correspondent writing the “Colored Notes” for the Vedette stated that one third of the black community was afflicted with the flu, with new cases every day. Across the page, it was announced the county had finally surpassed its Liberty Bond quota following three days of intense fundraising efforts.

The Oct. 31 edition of the Advocate announced that schools in the county would be reopening the next week, as “Influenza Cases are Few and Will be Closely Guarded.” The Vedette announced much the same, alongside a story announcing that Lt. Roy Carr, a Lockwood native, had been killed in action, fighting in France.

The Nov. 14 edition of the Vedette ran story on page 1 about Dade County officials declaring the epidemic over and that the ban on public gatherings would be lifted after five weeks. A report in the same paper noted the flu had taken another start in Sylvania. Schools in Dadeville had been reopened the previous Wednesday but were closed after only a half-day due to there being so many absent with influenza, including 12 new cases; another attempt at reopening the school was set for the next Monday.

Thus it went on through November and December of 1918, and into January and February of 1919. Farmers Mutual of Dade County delayed their annual meeting of policyholders due to the ongoing the influenza epidemic. News of increasing numbers of influenza cases was tempered by the news that Germany had been defeated and the Kaiser was dethroned. Mentions of influenza cases and deaths continued to occur at an increased rate in both papers until late spring 1919.