The first cases of Spanish flu emerged in March 1918 in Kansas.
The New York Times analyzed the timeline of the first mask orders issued in October 1918.
San Francisco made the first request for a mask. It lasted four weeks until November 21, 1918.
San Francisco implemented a second order of masks in December 1918, after the deaths began to rise again.
This second order lasted about two months until the beginning of February 1919.
It is also important to note that the masks in 1918 were nothing like the ones we have now.
Most people were forced to use gauze tape. The newspapers published instructions on how to make your own masks at home.
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