Most people complied with the ordinances.
The League’s efforts seemed to have been a rare exception. The refusal to wear masks and socially distance didn’t become as politicized or as organized as it has these days, however. The Anti-Mask League, formed in San Francisco in January 1919, protested the wearing of masks, viewing it as an unconstitutional limit of individual liberty. The ordinance was re-instituted again in January 1919 as cases spiked. The mandate was only in place for four weeks initially, with the spread of the flu curtailed briefly. People were fined and imprisoned for failing to comply. city to mandate the wearing of face masks in October 1918. Credit: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images | Nurses protest in front of the White House against the lack of personal protection equipment for COVID-19 on April 21, 2020, in Washington, D.C. Photos: Two men wearing face masks advocate the use of masks in Paris during the flu epidemic. With COVID, people were encouraged to make homemade cloth masks because of a shortage of medical masks that left even hospital workers without sufficient supplies of masks as well as other personal protective equipment.
A similar pattern has occurred now.īack then, many masks were made of gauze and cheesecloth and held in place with elastic or tape. Cities that embraced efforts such as mask mandates and social distancing, along with the closures of businesses, schools, theaters and houses of worship, saw lower numbers of deaths. Health officials understood that mask wearing, social distancing and frequent hand-washing helped slow the spread. The development of flu vaccines didn't happen until the 1940s. The highly contagious coronavirus spread quickly across the globe, aided by air travel.ĭuring the flu pandemic, the only hope was social mitigation efforts. A man in his 30s from Washington state had traveled from Wuhan, China, where the novel coronavirus is believed to have originated. However, if the symptoms continue to get worse after a week, it may be best to see a doctor.The first confirmed COVID-19 case in the U.S. It is not unusual for the flu to last longer than a week, so slow healing is not necessarily a bad sign. If the fever only goes away with anti-fever medication, remain at home.īy day 7, most people feel significantly better, although some are still sick. However, it is important to stay at home for 24 hours after a fever breaks. A few feel well enough to return to work or school. By day 5, some people begin to feel better. The symptoms tend to peak between days 2 and 4.
The most common symptoms of the flu include: Within a few hours, a person may transition from feeling fine to having a fever and other symptoms.Ī high fever occurs more commonly with the flu than with a cold, and it often appears before other symptoms. Unlike the cold and other viruses, which present gradually, flu symptoms tend to appear suddenly. It can be weeks or even months before a person recovers from serious flu complications. They may require a person to stay in the hospital. These individuals are also more vulnerable to serious flu complications, such as pneumonia and breathing difficulties.Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 200,000 people in the United States need to go to the hospital each year as a result of the flu.įlu complications are unlikely to resolve on their own, and they can be a medical emergency. Infants and very young children, older adults, and people with respiratory diseases may have symptoms that last longer. However, people who still get the flu after receiving a shot tend to have less severe symptoms that last for a shorter period.Īntiviral drugs, such as oseltamivir ( Tamiflu), can also shorten the length of the flu and lower the risk of serious complications. The flu shot reduces the risk of getting the flu but does not eliminate it. Some people find that their symptoms get better and then worse again or that they are worse at certain times of the day, such as in the morning.Īlthough fever and the most severe symptoms typically resolve within a week, some people have low energy for up to 2 weeks, and it is possible to experience a cough for up to 8 weeks.
Share on Pinterest Westend61/Getty Imagesįor people who do not develop serious flu complications, symptoms usually last 3–7 days.