On Oct. 9, 1918, all Salt Lake City churches and public schools and universities, theater, and other gathering locations were ordered close to address the growing influenza epidemic.

On Oct. 16, military offices at Fort Douglas–located on the outskirts of the city–issued a wholesale quarantine of the military post. To prevent the spread of influenza either into or out of the fort, Captain and post commander J. O’C. Hunt announced that all civilian visitors would be barred from entering the post, and all soldiers prohibited from leaving.