On Dec. 24, 1918, on Christmas Eve, with the epidemic across Nebraska still raging, the state Board of Health made influenza a mandatory quarantine disease, with fines ranging from $15 to $100 for violations. Approximately 1,000 homes in Omaha were placarded, with their occupants unable to leave for at least four days after the last fever had subsided.

Omaha’s business interests were growing increasingly upset by what they considered to be half-baked health orders coming from both the Nebraska Board of Health as well as Manning. The Chamber of Commerce protested the quarantine order. Theater and movie house owners protested the alternate-row seating they were being forced to use. Patrons were ignoring the order, and there was little they could do to enforce it.