By Oct. 15, 1918, over 3,500 Bostonians had died from influenza or resulting pneumonia since the epidemic began. Yet, there was hope. Death tallies had generally been decreasing in the past several days, leading Woodward and others to assert that the peak of the epidemic had passed.

At midnight of Saturday, October 19, Boston’s closure orders were removed. Saloons, bowling alleys, poolrooms, theaters, and movie houses were allowed to reopen.

Combined with the winter 1919 epidemic wave, Boston experienced an excess death rate of 710 per 100,000 residents, making it one of the worst hit cities in the United States. Only Pittsburgh and Philadelphia fared worse.