From: Oakland Tribune, 11 October 1918, Page 16, Column 5
ORDERS GIVEN FOR OAKLAND GRIPPE FIGHT
Rapid spread of Spanish influenza in Oakland led the city council and the police department to issue orders enforcing precautionary measures today. The health department had received notice of 45 new cases since yesterday, bringing the total to 103 cases in the city of Oakland.
Rigid quarantine such as that established in Los Angeles is being demanded by physicians and health authorities in Berkeley. In San Jose all schools, theaters, and public meeting places were closed.
The measures taken by Oakland authorities, in addition to quarantine of each new case, included orders to the police to enforce the anti-expectoration ordinance, which makes it a misdemeanor to expectorate on the sidewalks, street crossings, and the floors of public vehicles, street cars, or public vehicles; and orders by Commissioner of Public Health F. F. Jackson to the telephone company and to merchants to have the mouthpieces of public telephone instruments sprayed frequently every day with a germicide solution. Jackson also advised merchants not to send out goods "on approval".
ACTION URGED IN BERKELEY
Physicians in Berkeley are urging that a rigid quarantine be established such as is in effect in San Jose, Richmond, Los Angeles and other cities, but Dr. J. J. Benton, health officer, says that isolation is sufficient to prevent the spread of the disease. Complaints also have been made in Berkeley that the methods being used are insufficient and an investigation probably will be conducted.
A limited quarantine was ordered today on the School of Military Aeronautics at the University, and President Wheeler has ordered that no dances be held. No new cases have been reported from Berkeley, where the total is given as eighteen, but there are several new cases of a mild nature at the University.
In Alameda only four cases have been reported, an increase of only two cases in a week.
One fatality is reported from the naval station at Mare Island, and there are more than 500 cases there.
