On Oct. 4, 1918, Cleveland City Director of Public Welfare Lamar T. Beeman directed Health Commissioner Rockwood to survey local influenza conditions for planning.

Health Commissioner Rockwood’s plan called for the isolation of those with symptoms of influenza in a contagious disease ward at City Hospital. Employers were asked to instruct sick workers to take time off of work and rest until the symptoms disappeared.

Rockwood acknowledged that this was a drastic measure, especially in critical war industries, but argued that it was necessary and would prevent even more time being lost later during an epidemic. Similarly, schools were asked to inspect and monitor students and to send children with symptoms to their homes for rest.

By the end of the first week of October, the situation in Cleveland had grown serious. On October 7, Rockwood announced that the city likely had approximately 500 cases. Only two days earlier, Rockwood had stated that Cleveland’s epidemic was not alarming. Now he was not so sure.