In the hospital, Sandy is working on samples of the virus. She is working to help find a cure for the virus, as well as come up with better treatment plans for the patients. As she was working, she had taken a sample from someone who had tested positive for the virus. In order to prevent a potential spread, she worked on the experiment alone and emailed the results to other doctors.
The sample she had taken had actually come from Mermaid Man after an outbreak had occurred at Shady Shoals retirement home. The entire home is on complete lockdown, staff member numbers have reduced due to people on leave in order to slow the spread. Due to their age, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy are still in the hospital.
The media has especially been paying attention to Sandy due to the high profile Bikini Bottom citizens who contracted the virus. Sea Fox had erroneously published articles accusing her of favoring people that she knows personally. Others like BBN had said it was smart of her to use someone like Mermaid Man.
Sitting in her office, she was working when Administrator Flotsam and Dr. Gilliam walked in.
"Howdy fellas. Come to check on the process?" Sandy asks.
"Not quite. We are here to hope that you can make a statement to the press with new facts that have come in. People like you, Dr. Cheeks. Any intelligent person would trust you with this." Flotsam tells her.
"You're probably right. But let's just hope that Sea Fox actually pays attention to the facts for once." Sandy says as she prepares to address the reporters.
Walking outside the hospital, she sees that the reporters are all socially distant and all wearing masks. She stands at the podium to answer questions from the reporters.
"Ah yes, you in the front." Sandy says, pointing to Perch Perkins.
"Dr. Cheeks, what are the new estimated numbers that have been reported?" Perch Perkins asks.
"Well unfortunately I must report that there have been 1,000 new cases of people testing positive for coralvirus. And also that around 150 of those who have tested positive have died." Sandy answers in a melancholy tone.
"Any report of how these cases had popped up?" Another reporter asks.
"Well more than half of the positive cases came from people who contracted the virus after many large parties. More than a third had come from essential employees at their business. And the ones who died were mostly immunocompromised." Sandy answers.
"So anyway, when are you going to address Howard Blandy's videos about the virus being fake. And that you're doing this hurt his company?" A Sea Fix reporter asks.
"Well first of all,the virus is not fake. People like Howard Blandy just don't want to listen to reason. Second, I'm fully aware of the recession, but his investors are trying to save their own financial behinds. And not to mention, many of the employees that I mentioned to have gotten sick, were people working on his flying boatmobile project. All of which have said to me that they are being denied compensation for." Sandy answers, much to everyone's shock.
"So is there anything else that people wanna know?" Sandy asks the reporters who say nothing.
"I didn't think so. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work." Sandy says.
Walking back to her office, she sees Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy both on oxygen.
"We need a cure, Barnacle Boy. The virus is… EVIIILL!" Mermaid Man weakly says to an exhausted Barnacle Boy.
The sight of Bikini Bottom's mightiest heroes in such a condition depresses Sandy. She knows the gravity and reality of the situation, but also wants optimism in Bikini Bottom.
Sitting back at her desk, she logs into the computer to see that her statements have made the news. She sees that now Howard Blandy is under fire for the knowledge that his employees are being denied compensation after they contracte stage virus.
She reads a BBN article with Blandy's response: Don't let Sandy Cheeks distract you from the fact that she hasn't found a cure yet.
"Bastard." Sandy says, reading his comments.
She further reads that companies have already announced that they will no longer be partnered with the Blandy Franchising Co., and that cities are terminating contracts with his company as well.
"Well at least there's some justice in this world." She says, happy to see that other businesses are being smart about distancing themselves from a corrupt individual like him.
She then gets back to work so that she can get a cure or at least a vaccination available for people, to allow for a return to normalcy.
End of the chapter. It's been almost two months since I updated this story. Hopefully the next one will be up much sooner than that. Depressing as it is, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy would be amongst the most likely characters to get the virus. I may make the next chapter more optimistic, but only time will tell on how my mind works.