Restaurants in the Time of the Spanish Flu

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According to Prager Tagblatt (October 3, 1918) Tivadar Bódy, the Mayor of Budapest, severely hit by the flu,  proposed to the government closing schools, theaters, entertainment venues, as well as coffee houses. Perhaps not all of the proposal was realized: schools in Hungary closed on October 1.

Lidové noviny (Brno) from October 19, 1918 announced the closing of schools in Prague, Wien and Pest: the more radical Budapest measures included places of entertainment and standing places in public transport.

During the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu epidemic most restaurants remained open. The public and many professionals downgraded the risk of close contact while eating and drinking; the authorities were afraid of public disturbances if access to eateries, shops or churches were blocked. Other sites where people congregated did close and if not, physicians, officials and papers urged people to avoid them. Only food lines and overcrowded habitation could not be prebented. In the Fall of 1918, schools were closed in many cities and towns: in Budapest from the beginning of October, on October 8 in severely affected Vienna, in Prague and in northern Bohemia, from October 13 across Moravia. Vienna, Budapest or Geneva forbade public entertainment including theaters and cinemas. Food establishments, however, closed only when personnel was infected; Vienna allowed even cultural programs in eateries and cafés.  Many places closed due to war scarcity and lack of workers without any official meddling.  In 1918, Austrian and Bohemian press announced full closure of restaurants in cities such as Geneve, Turin or Budapest:  the intention may have been there, but it was hardly ever accomplished

Neuigkeits Weltblatt, July 25, 1918, p. 6. The report of the Vienna daily mentions closing of theaters, cafés and churches in Geneva. Swiss authorities  went often beyond the flu measures applied in Austria or Hungary:  church services were sometimes abolished, the city of Lausanne mandated face masks in public – but no closing of restaurants is supported by documents.