“No Jim, I see you. You signed off on them when you took the oath of office. As part of your taking office you were to read the Executive Orders and then sign that you had read and would abide by them.”
“Well I didn’t so I guess I can do as I please,” he shot back.
“But you did sign,” she said holding up the book with his signature attesting to the fact that he had read them and would uphold them.
He just stood there looking first from her to the signature and back again.
CHAPTER TWENTY
This is a Special News Bulletin from the Center for Disease Control. Stay tuned for his special news conference.
The camera cut to a scene that showed several military personnel in full biochemical suits. Several were using a high pressure hose on military vehicles. It was an eerie scene to say the least. The station then cut to a young woman holding a microphone with a huge white trailer in the background. CDC was painted on the side in large letters. The most startling part was that she had on a face mask.
Good evening. In a minute, the Director of the Center for Disease Control will be making an announcement. Doctor Riser will start the briefing and will introduce members of a special government division that deals with various aspects of the control of air borne pathogens. I see the trailer door opening and they are coming out now.
The camera cut to a small group of men and women as they stood behind Mark. He adjusted his mask quickly and looked out at the cameras.
I am Doctor Mark Riser, Director for the Center of Disease Control. We are here to give the population important information. This is not intended to frighten you or create a panic. It is our belief that Americans, when given all the facts, will respond in a mature and rational manner.
“As you know, an outbreak of the Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever virus has been found within the borders of the United States. How it got here is an unknown element at this time. What we do know is that it appears to be spreading because of the nature of the infection. This is an air borne transmitted disease and the infection can be passed from one person to the next by simply being in the same general location.”
“Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever is extremely contagious and very deadly. I will not insult you by telling you that everything is under control. For this to be contained we will need the help of every citizen. If we do not have your cooperation, the disease will continue to spread exponentially. Within one month, virtually 90 percent of the population could be infected.”
He stopped and looked directly into the camera before going on.
“President John F. Kennedy realized that the spread of a form of nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare could be unleashed on the United States. To that end he created a special team of medical experts to help combat and control the spread in such an event. Executive Order 60600.1A, B and C were put into effect. That order created a special agency called the Deadly Virus Containment Team. DVCT, for short. It gives the Director, Doctor Randal Peel, the authority to take whatever steps are necessary to contain the spread without interference from any further government approval. This is Doctor Peel, head of the DVCT.”
The cameras all cut to Doctor Peel as he stepped to the microphones. Much like Mark Riser had done earlier, he looked around at the reporters and then directly into the cameras.
“Honestly, I was hoping and praying this day would never come. I would have been happy to be back at the lab and have remained anonymous the rest of my life. Unfortunately that isn’t the case today. The Ebola virus we are dealing with, and I don’t want to confuse the issue using a bunch of technical terms, has had five variations. That is until now. This virus is mutating which has both good and bad connotations. The good is that it may mutate to such an extent that it is no longer deadly. Of course the other end of that is it may mutate to something even more deadly. It is what we call a Chimera. It changes by absorbing other viruses. This mutation can either weaken or make it even more deadly. We intend to err on the more cautious side.
The DVCT has issued the following directive. All air, land, and sea travel is immediately suspended from state to state and from into or out of the United States. While we realize the tremendous disruption it will cause and even anger in some areas, this is what must be done to prevent worldwide contamination. Currently at least fourteen states have known or suspected cases of the Ebola virus. We are taken these steps in hopes of preventing further spread.
You must understand that this was not taken lightly. We know what we are asking you to do but if we continue the way we are, 90 percent of the American population will be infected within one month. Of those 90 percent, the mortality rate is 90 percent or better. Think about that for a minute. Your chances of winning a super jackpot lottery twice is one thousand times greater than not contracting the Ebola Virus.”
He turned back to Mark and nodded. Mark stepped back up to the microphones. He hesitated a few seconds.
“That probably scared the daylights out of you,” he said smiling briefly.
“There are some basic precautions that everyone should initiate immediately. Wait. Don’t everyone run out and start buying milk, bread, and water. That is not the answer and it is both foolish and dangerous. Your best protection is to isolate yourself as much as possible. Get a mask and start wearing it immediately. Remember this is air borne. You can drink your regular water safely. It doesn’t affect food. I am going to turn this over to Stacy Langhorn and she will go down a list of things you can and should do to lessen your chance of exposure. Panic is the last thing you should do. When you panic you breathe deeper and faster. Stay calm and we will get through this together. Stacy,” he said passing it off to her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Ladies and Gentlemen. The Vice President of the United States.”
“Good evening my fellow Americans. Many of you are wondering why the Vice President is addressing the nation instead of President Thornburg. The President suffered a fractured rib when he stumbled while jogging. It is not life threatening but the doctors insisted that he remain overnight for observation. The President sends you his best wishes.
Earlier today the Center for Disease Control and the Deadly Virus Containment Team held a press conference. Tonight I want to assure the American people that we have complete and total faith in both of those agencies. Doctor Peel and Doctor Riser are the top experts in the field of viruses and containment. The suggestions offered should not be dismissed. As of this moment, every government employee is hereby directed to start wearing a face mask before they report to work tomorrow. Many of you have already heeded this advice and we salute you for doing so. All Americans who are concerned for their loved ones and for themselves should immediately implement the suggestions offered today.
All newspapers, television stations, and radio stations will repeat those instructions every hour for the next thirty days. While it is not mandatory currently, we are asking for your cooperation to help stop the spread of this virus.
Fellow Americans, we are faced with a great peril that could potentially travel to every corner of the world. Every one of us fully understands the hardships that lie ahead but the restriction of travel must be implemented to contain this virus. Everyone is a soldier in the war against this Chimera. We need each and every one of you to do your part. Our entire country is under attack and only we can stop it.