Quarantine

On 22 October, he announced a naval ‘quarantine’ to prevent further offensive weapons reaching Cuba and demanded the removal of the missiles already there. Although often described as a blockade, the US government used ‘quarantine’ because ‘blockade’ implied a state of war. This approach demonstrated determination while leaving time for negotiation.

Infected houses were marked with red crosses and placed under a 28-day quarantine. Quarantine means separating infected or potentially infected people from others. Watchmen guarded houses, searchers identified plague deaths, and theatres and public gatherings were banned.

Kennedy chose a middle course: a naval quarantine to stop further offensive weapons reaching Cuba. This applied pressure without immediately attacking the island. It also left time for negotiation.

Oxford also imposed quarantine. At first, infected and healthy people could be confined together. In 1626, the corporation began investing in pest houses, which helped separate infected people from others.