On Oct. 18, 1918, Birmingham recorded its highest influenza death toll in a day, and the city voted to extend its general closure. The total cases at this point in time were 7,100 reported.

On October 17, the Board of Education voted to keep schools closed for at least another week. The next day, the City Commission extended the general closure order–due to expire on Monday, October 21–for two additional weeks.

Over 7,100 cases had been reported thus far in Birmingham, with another 2,100 cases in surrounding Jefferson County.