Continued from Part 2
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The scene opens on David, one year after his disconcerting visit to Dr. Gites' office, sitting in a dimly-lit living room and watching the nightly news on a newly-purchased flat screen television set. A cigarette burns in a ceramic ashtray next to the sofa, with David's TV tray directly in front of him, dinner untouched, a fork standing perfectly upright in a mound of cold mashed potatoes.
TV News Anchor 1: While initially it was thought the stabby would curb the virus, and bring about herd immunity, doctors in Makson county are reporting a disturbing amount of breakthrough cases even in the stabbed, with the unstabbed population now being pointed to as the source of the recent mutant strain breakout.
Anchor 2: That's right, Susan. No one knows exactly why the stabby isn't working as most doctors expected it would, but some experts, including the Global Health Coalition, speculate pockets of unstabbed individuals are to blame. A lack of positive thinking and poor receptivity to science could be to blame for the medical anomaly which is quickly becoming the norm across the state. WCNBCN's own Micah Mancer is live at Makson County Central Hospital with more. Michael?
Live Reporter: Thanks Susan and Brock. The scene here at Makson's largest hospital might not be what you would expect. While cases of the new strain surge and staff at the hospital report facilities being filled almost to capacity, in the parking lot there's almost no sign of life.
As you can see behind me here there are no cars, ambulances are parked and inactive, and the main signs for the building are turned off tonight to conserve energy. While some conspiracy theorists on social media have been pointing to the eerie and desolate look of hospitals like Makson across the state as proof of a so-called conspiracy, doctors here at Makson County Hospital say nothing could be further from the truth.
I'm joined now with Dr. Jake Philmar, immunologist and respiratory specialist here at Makson. Doctor, in the interest of quieting some of the irresponsible rumors going around, could you tell us why — if Makson's facilities are so crowded — to the untrained eye the parking lots and emergency room look like a ghost town?
Dr. Philmar: What we have going on here at the hospital is something that folks not working in healthcare don't seem to understand. The mutant strains of last year's virus are filling us to capacity. The reason the parking lots are empty and ambulances are not going out is because it is simply too dangerous for normal visitors to be coming into the hospital for routine checkups and other normal procedures like surgeries and cancer screenings.
The ambulances are also not going out for most calls due to concern about EMTs contracting the virus. We're asking that any individual worried they may have the virus to remain at home, so as not to fill the hospital to capacity, which could result in a logistical breakdown which our facilities simply are not prepared to deal with and which would make things even more dangerous in the end.
Live Reporter: Doctor, I know you're a busy man, but if you had just one message for the WCNBCN viewers tonight who might be thinking this isn't really that serious, and who haven't yet received stabby, what would you tell them?
Dr. Philmar: I'd tell them that now is not the time to be cavalier. The world is facing an unprecedented viral pandemic and until it is under control we need every last resident of Makson county wearing their bracelets, making that stabby reservation, and most importantly heeding the advice of the experts.
Live Reporter: Thank you very much, doctor. I'll now turn it back to you Su—
Dr. Philmar: —And just one more thing. Sorry. Sorry.
Live Reporter: That's okay doctor. Go ahead.
Dr. Philmar: I don't mean to sound too forceful here, but for those criticizing the mayor for attending that charity function without a bracelet yesterday, I'd like to emphasize he's had stabby, and also that his work is essential to keeping our society running here in Makson. We've heard a lot of, frankly, disrespectful things said about that party and I think people are forgetting that some jobs have to be done no matter what.
We know times are hard now. But your businesses are not more important than saving lives and will have to grin and bear it — and make use of the subsidies being sent out; it's mayors like Greenwald that are really doing their best to look out for you right now, and do what's best for the community.
Live Reporter: Thank you doctor. Susan, back to you.
