Social distancing in the US in the 1918 – 1920 flu pandemic:
– Philadelphia waited eight days after their death rate began to take off before banning gatherings and closing schools. They endured the highest peak death rate of all cities studied. 748 deaths per 100,000.
– After relaxing social distancing measures, San Francisco faced a long second wave of deaths. 673 deaths per 100,000.
– New York City began quarantine measures very early — 11 days before the death rate spiked. The city had the lowest death rate on the Eastern Seaboard. 452 deaths per 100,000.