The whole of the State's anti-epidemic organisation has been brought into operation. The Federal authorities have declared the State an infected area, and have imposed drastic restrictions on all communication with other States. Group portrait of medical workers in protective gear during 1919 influenza epidemic. Credit:St John Ambulance Archives The official finding is that the patients are suffering from a disease similar to that which existed on the Medic and the Sardinia. In each case the history reveals the fact that the disease was contracted in Melbourne, or from contact with Melbourne cases, with the exception of one mild, doubtful case. Those now under treatment and under observation include a doctor, a nursing sister, and an orderly. They are all military cases, with the exception, according to the Director-General of Health, of one doubtful Sydney case. One man was landed at the hospital straight from the Melbourne train. Another man had visited some friends, all of whom are under close surveillance.

All theatres, picture shows, and other places of indoor public resort in the metropolitan area will be closed as from to-day, and until further notice. Masked clerks at work at the Commonwealth Bank during the 1919 Sydney epidemic. Credit:Staff photographer One of the recommendations of the interstate health conference in November was that in the event of an outbreak in any State, it was considered advisable to close all places of public resort, such as theatres, music halls, picture shows, race meetings, churches, schools, to prohibit all public meetings, and to take action for the regulation of all out patients' departments of general hospitals. Schools in the metropolitan area will not be reopened to-day. The Minister for Health requests school teachers and managers of theatres and other places of indoor amusement to act upon this intimation as to closing, in case they do not receive an official notification in time.

There was a persistent rumour yesterday that the doctor who had been classed as one of the suspicious cases had succumbed to the disease. The rumour is officially denied. "There is nothing in it," to quote the Director-General of Health. A large number of additional inoculating depots will be opened in the suburbs tomorrow, in order to relieve the possibility of congestion at the city depots. Seven depots will be open to-day, and two of them — Water Police Court and Hyde Park — from 7 o'clock to 9 o'clock at night. In Sydney, face masks were made compulsory in public places. Credit:From Australia: A History In Photographs by Michael Cannon Health Department officials, in pursuance of what will be a regular procedure, examined the passengers on two boats from Melbourne yesterday. There were no cases on board.

All passengers on boats from the Victorian capital will be examined by the department until the Commonwealth steps in. If New South Wales is declared infected, all passenger traffic with other States will be cut off, unless Victoria is also declared infected, in which case passenger traffic with Victoria will continue as before. The advice of the Department of Public Health to citizens is to be inoculated, and to wear a gauze respirator while riding on trams, trains, or other vehicles; upon steamers; when occupying offices, rooms, or other enclosed spaces which are also occupied by any other persons; in any crowded street, or if walking or standing in conversation with other persons. In the open air it is believed that there is safety at a distance of six feet or over from the mouth of any person. The following simple rules should be observed :— Keep away from the cougher, spitter, or sneezer who does not use a mask or handkerchief.

Keep out of crowds. Keep in the fresh air and sunlight as much as possible. Keep out of doors, if possible, or in a well-ventilated room. Be temperate in eating, and avoid alcohol. Wash your hands and face immediately upon reaching your home.

Change your clothes before mingling with the rest of the family. Exercise, short of fatigue, should be taken regularly. Keep the mouth and teeth clean. If the epidemic should break through quarantine —Go to bed in a room to yourself directly you feel symptoms like pain in the head or limbs, or a cold, and take light diet. Stay in bed until recovery is complete. The sick person should cough, sneeze, or expectorate into gauze or a piece of clean rag, which should be burnt at once after use. Persons handling the gauze or rag should wash their hands after each attention. Patient's room should be well ventilated, and care should be taken that draughts do not strike him. Visitors should be kept from the sick room as far as possible. Only one member of the family should attend on the patient, and the attendant should wear a mask. Loading