[March 26, 10 NE]

Council Meeting Minutes

Date of Meeting: March 26, 10 NE

Attendance:
Garland Barron, mayor – absent
Deputy Carol Dixon, lieutenant mayor – absent
Farm Manager Gunther Hamilton, acting chairman by order of Mayor Barron – present
Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad – present
Captain Arnold McBride – present
Dr. Carolyn Taylor – present
Deputy Thomas Mayfield – present
Madame Linda Cartwright – absent
Commander James Witherspoon – present

Meeting called to order at 9:30 AM.

Law Report form Deputy Thomas

Six teenagers violated the quarantine orders on group assembly and gathered in a small party by the river. They've been issued a citation and fined by the court.

Lieutenant Mayor Carol Dixon violated the quarantine orders by jumping into the river and swimming ashore. However, as she went straight into voluntary quarantine afterward, the court has declined to issue a fine.

Mary Walton appears to have died of the disease sometime last night. She then turned in the night and began to consume her husband, Bob, before emerging from her hut. No patrolman was nearby at the time, and the cannibal entered the hut of Dante and Inola. Fortunately, she was slain by Dante before biting anyone, but increased patrols around quarantined huts and houses has been proposed by Sheriff Earl Carter. Because Deputy Carol is quarantined, and Deputy Thomas is on full time medical duty, this will require overtime pay for the other deputies. Proposal approved by unanimous vote of council, 6-0, with the caveat that overtime pay is to be made only in ammunition, due to the risk of a decline in food resources resulting from a decline in available labor.

Disease Report from Dr. Ahmad:

The mayor and lieutenant mayor are currently asymptomatic but have both opted to voluntarily quarantine with their families in order to care for them. Councilwoman Linda Cartwright and Joe Smith remain in severe condition in the quarantine room. Dr. Emily Sanders is believed to have contracted the disease from patients days ago, but she has continued to serve patients in the quarantine room. Her symptoms have progressed to the point that she can no longer function to work with patients, and she is now quarantined with them. Dr. Enid, who has exhibited no symptoms, will take over quarantine room duties. Deputy Thomas is working with home-quarantined patients in the fort, and Dr. Ahmad is working in the village. Raul and his apprentice continue to prepare medicines as quickly as possible.

Patient zero, Jacob Major, the 68-year-old farmer who was initially attending to the infected pigs, has died. His wife, however, has begun to recover, and has not had any indication of fever for 24 hours, which suggests a rapid progression of the disease, either to death or recovery. Thirty-three people are currently symptomatic and under quarantine, and there have been four deaths, five if we assume Bob would have eventually died of the disease if not consumed by his wife. This indicates a death rate of 15 percent or higher.

The disease does not appear to be spread asymptomatically. Nevertheless, in an abundance of caution, and because of the difficulty of distinguishing allergies from infection in the early stages, masks are still recommended for all people in public. The disease appears to be spread by droplets expelled through coughing or speech, but contraction and progression is extremely rapid. First symptoms typically appear within 24 to 60 hours of exposure to a symptomatic person.

Farm Report from Manager Gunther Hamilton:

Due to two pigs being infected and slaughtered without benefit of meat, pork supply will be down in the fall. Rations will need to be readjusted to reflect the change at that time. Carolyn verifies that no other animals are showing signs of infection. Due to the reduction in labor caused by the illness and the need for physical distancing, farm production is down twenty percent. One of the cows is being dried off because there aren't enough milkers. Numerous farmers are working large amounts of unpaid overtime. Request to increase their rations of tobacco and ammunition. Approved by majority vote, 6-0.

Fishing Report from Commander James Witherspoon:

Due to reduction in labor caused by the illness and the need for physical distancing during work, fish supply is lower than projected for late March. Rations will need to be readjusted to reflect the change.

Debate over when to allow recovered, quarantined workers to return to work.

Gunther suggests 24 hours after being asymptomatic, since it doesn't appear to be transmitted asymptomatically. Carolyn objects and proposes seven days after appearance of the last symptom. Gunther expresses concerns over long-term reduction in farm and fish production and the potential risk to food supply that could result in the long run if recovered workers are quarantined for too long. Carolyn expresses concern over the potential risk to lives if the quarantine is not extended long enough. A compromise is proposed by Dr. Ahmad – release from quarantine after three symptom-free days, but continued caution in wearing masks and keeping physical distance in public. Resolution approved by majority vote, 5-1.

Meeting adjourned at 10:15 AM.

[*]

Carol gasps and sits bolt upright in bed. Her brow is slick with sweat. For a terrible moment, she's not sure if the nightmare is dream or reality. Sweetheart stirs and coughs beside her. It's a hack-hack-hack and a sad little whine, and then the toddler is asleep again.

Carol slides from their shared bed, slips through the drapes, and slumps to the couch before the dying fire. Head bent in her hands, she begins to sob.

"Hey, hey, hey." The couch shifts from Daryl's weight, and she's soon cradled against his chest. "She's been coughin' less tonight. Way less, right? Fever's way down. Gonna pull through this." He kisses the top of her head.

Carol pulls away and swipes at her eyes. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"Wake me," he insists.

She sighs deeply. "I had a nightmare."

Daryl waits silently for her to continue.

She swallows. "The Council…they met and they all voted, 8-1, to kill Sweetheart and burn her body. To stop the spread. I was the only vote against."

"Jesus."

"I'm a murderer."

"Carol – "

"- That's why Rick banished me. Back at the prison."

Daryl rubs his eyes. He lets his hand fall and breathes in. "Carol, those were different times. Prison wasn't like here. We were all just tryin' to survive. Day by day. And you…ya thought it would save people ya loved."

"Tyreese loved Karen."

"Karen was gonna die anyway. Sweetheart ain't gonna die. She ain't gonna spread it to no one outside this cabin. Things're different now."

Carol lets out a shaky sigh. She pulls her knees up to her chest and hugs them. "I told Tyreese. He forgave me. I just…maybe I still haven't forgiven myself. I thought…I thought I'd buried that."

"Ain't nothin' stays dead in this world." He slides closer, puts both arms around her huddled body, and draws her close. They sit like that, for a long time, until Carol's ready to try for sleep again. They're careful not to wake Sweetheart when they ease back into bed on either side of her. But Carol does press her lips to the little girl's forehead, to test how warm it is. There's barely any heat. The fever, she prays, has broken for good.

[March 27, 10 NE]

For the first time since contracting the disease, Sweetheart doesn't wake up in the middle of the night coughing.

But Carol does.

"How could Garland not make you turn 'round!" Daryl growls as he brings her tea and slides down next to her on the couch.

"It was my choice," Carol says hoarsely.

"Told 'em to make ya!"

"He tried. I jumped in the river, Pookie. You can't be mad at Garland."

"Have to be. 'Cause I can't be mad at you."

Carol smiles weakly.

Daryl's eyes caress her face worriedly. "What if you…" He chokes. He looks back at the fire.

"I wo –" Carol's words are cut off by her own dry coughing. The mug shakes in her hand and the tea splashes out. Daryl takes it from her and she covers her mouth as the hacking continues.