VALUE OF MASKS

Evening Star, Issue 17032, 1 May 1919, Page 3

VALUE OF MASKS

SAN FRANCISCO'S EXPERIENCE. "As far as the Board of Health are concerned, San Francisco will continue to wear its masks until the influenza epidemic has been stamped out beyond the probability of a recurrence," says the Ba.n Francisco ' Chronicle' of February 17. "The board refused unanimously lastnight to recommend to the Mayor repeal of the mask ordinance adopted two weeks ago. They will meet again on Monday to decide whether conditions at that timo will warrant removal of the city's barrier of gauze. Dr William C. Hassler (City Health Officer) reported to the board that the masks, in 11 days, had reduced very considerably the number of new cases each day. 'lf there is another epidemic,' adds Dr Hassler, ' orders should be issued to close the theatres, churches, ball rooms in hotels, and other plaoes of congregation. • These have been the persistent violators of the ordinance during the present epidemic' " The 'Chronicle' also publishes the following table, showing the number of cases and deaths without the masking system and 'the number with the marking system : —Without Masks.— January 15 ... 510 new cases 50 deaths January 16 ... 53,8 new cases 42 deaths January 17 ... 519 new cases 39 deaths January 18 ... 412 new cases 25 deaths January 19 ... 400 new cases 16 deaths —With Masks.— January 20 ... 366 new cases 40 deaths January 21 ... 183 new cases 22 deaths January 22 ... 164 new cases 15 deaths January 23 ... 118 new cases 11 deaths January 24 ... 85 new cases 20 deaths January 25 ... 35 new cases 10 deaths January 26 ... 12 new cases 4 deaths January 27 ... 54 new cases 13 deaths January 28 ... 41 new cases 9 deaths January 30 ... 31 new cases 8 deaths January 31 ... 39 new cases 4 deaths