Once the COVID crisis is over, it may take us quite some time to process and psychologically recover from this tragedy.
public history
As some pushed a return to the status quo, Fresno leaders urged citizens to exercise caution and heed the guidance of experts, lest the city reopen too quickly.
The second wave of the virus seemed to be ebbing in January 1919, but health authorities warned Fresnans not to let their guard down.
In the days following the Board of Health’s collective resignation, Fresno mayor William F. Toomey scrambled to bridge […]
At the dawn of 1919, Fresno faced twin crises—a second flu wave and a political struggle over who was in charge of the city’s response to the epidemic.
As Fresno entered the final week of 1918, the second wave of the influenza outbreak showed no signs of breaking.
As a new wave of flu tore through Fresno, the debate over reopening turned into all-out war – with business and church interests ultimately winning out, at a steep cost to public health.
By mid-December 1918, it was clear that a second wave of the flu was indeed hitting Fresno. But many people did not want to shut down again.