On Nov. 25, 1918, Denverites would be required to wear gauze face masks while riding streetcars, when attending church services, when in theaters or any assembly (indoor or out), while shopping, when riding in elevators, when working in a factory, when working in an building to which the public was admitted, or when visiting a physician. Those who served the public in any capacity were also required to don a mask.

The Red Cross reported that it was doing all that it could to produce more masks, but it could not keep up with the sudden demand. Store and factory managers told the health department that they were trying to adhere to the new order, but that they would not turn away customers or employees if they were unable to obtain more masks.

The day after the mask order went into effect, only a few downtown stores were seen to be using masks. Another un-masked salesgirl said that she believed that a higher authority than the Denver Department of Health was looking after her well-being. The general public was also reported to be going about its business largely as if the order did not exist.