Table 1.

Summary of epidemic incidence, policy and individual's perceived risk factors influencing the degree of social distancing (σ(t)) during different periods of the influenza epidemic in Sydney 1919. (Day 1 is 1 January 1919. The question mark assigned to σ(t) during period D reflects our uncertainty surrounding whether people fully resumed normal contact behaviour at some stage during this period.)

period	day, 1919	incidence	drivers of perceptions	perceived risk	σ(t)
A	32–59	very low	high publicity and policy	high waning	<1
B	60–84	low	threat evidently passed	low	1
C	85–134	high	high incidence and policy	high	<1
D	135–165	moderate	decreased incidence	moderate	1(?)
E	166–223	high	high incidence	high	<1
F	224 onwards	low	threat passed	low	1