The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 182

182. The Pandemic Finally Erupts

The Secretary-General said,

“Even with the Asian Flu, despite having an international cooperative organization like the WHO, China covered it up, and it swept through the countries around China first. China has a massive population, so if it becomes an epidemic in China, it becomes an epidemic worldwide. Frankly, this bill is being created because of China!”

Huo Guo regained his senses and retorted again.

“The People’s Republic of China now is completely different from the time of the Asian Flu! Back then, it was the continental revolution, a state of anarchy with no central control, which led to irresponsibility. Don’t you know that now a strong people’s government that prioritizes the people controls the continent?”

“If you’re so confident, then there’s no reason for China to oppose this bill, right?”

“Hmm, hmm, that’s true.”

“If the obligation to report is intentionally violated, leading to its spread to neighboring countries, then you will be held responsible for the pandemic and must compensate half of the compensation amount for deaths in each country, as well as half of the cost of purchasing vaccines and treatments.”

“Half? That’s too excessive! Are you trying to completely ruin the country?”

“It has to be this strong to prevent violations, right? Director Huo Guo, why are you only worrying about not complying? Is China not confident in complying with the bill?”

“Hmm, hmm, I’m just interpreting the legal clauses from a general standpoint.”

“It’s not just penalties; there are merits too. If you report to the WHO, you’ll receive strong medical support. There’s no reason for a normal country not to report early. So why is China opposing it?”

“Humph, I’m not opposing it. I’m just concerned that excessive sanctions could ruin a country.”

“Reporting doesn’t ruin a country.”

“Hum, hum.”

“Let’s end this wasteful debate and put this bill to a general vote.”

Despite China’s behind-the-scenes opposition, more than 2/3 of the countries voted in favor of the bill.

The provision that allowed for strong medical support from the WHO if reported early actually swayed poor countries to favor it.

The WHO’s newly established international law was delivered to the administrative bodies of each country and ratified by their respective parliaments.

China went through the throes of fierce debate in the Standing Committee, but reluctantly passed it to avoid creating obstacles to international social cooperation and promotion if it opposed it.

*

Hong Kong. Internal Medicine Department of a general hospital.

The patient was wearing a thick winter coat and shivering, even though winter was over.

The doctor examined the patient’s throat.

“Say ‘ah’.”

“Ah~”

“Your tonsils are very swollen. You also have severe pharyngitis [inflammation of the pharynx, causing a sore throat]. Your temperature is 39 degrees Celsius [102.2 degrees Fahrenheit].”

“But why am I so cold? It feels like needles are pricking my whole body.”

The doctor questioned him.

“It’s been a week?”

“I thought it would get better in two or three days, but it’s getting worse. Is it not just a cold?”

“The medicine isn’t working at all?”

“No. I took all the prescription medicine I got from the local pharmacy for three days, but it’s still like this. It’s actually getting worse.”

“It might be the flu, not just a cold….”

“The flu?”

“It could be because your immunity is weakened. I’ll give you a prescription with antipyretics [fever reducers], antibiotics, and sleeping pills, so get plenty of rest.”

After the first patient left, the hospital was in chaos.

It started in the internal medicine department, but soon 2/3 of the hospital staff were complaining of respiratory symptoms, chills, fever, muscle pain, and lethargy.

*

One month later.

Hong Kong’s hospitals were overflowing with flu patients.

“Cough, cough!”

The doctors and nurses wearing masks were sweating profusely.

It was not only hard work, but they were also in a state of not knowing when they would be infected.

*

China.

An emergency Standing Committee meeting was held with Deng Xiaoping in attendance.

The Director of Disease Prevention reported.

“We thought it was just a variant of the Asian Flu, but it was a new virus, Comrade Chairman.”

Deng Xiaoping, sitting on a height-adjustable chair, shouted.

“What the hell are you doing! Can’t you even tell the difference between shit and piss?”

“I’m, I’m sorry, Chairman.”

“I passed the WHO’s mandatory clauses because I trusted your word that it was the Asian Flu. What are you going to do now?”

China was opposed to the WHO’s mandatory clauses, but if China was the only one left out while other countries were ratifying them one after another, it would be suspicious. The Director of Disease Prevention actively proposed to the leadership that it was the Asian Flu, so it was not a new infectious disease, and there was no obligation to report to the WHO, so it was passed.

But when it was determined to be a new virus, China was in a truly difficult situation.

“Director! Can’t you hear me? I’m asking you what you’re going to do?”

“We should inform the WHO now and ask for leniency.”

“Are you saying we should beg the WHO for penalties and reveal that 10,000 people have already died, tarnishing the prestige of Great China?”

“There’s no other way….”

“Come up with a plan, a plan!”

Knowing that Deng Xiaoping was urging him to find a way to avoid responsibility, the director gave the answer the chairman wanted.

“I received a report yesterday that the flu is prevalent in Hong Kong. It seems to be prevalent there as well. Hong Kong is an international trading port, so it’s difficult to trace the origin of the epidemiological investigation. If we turn the arrow to the Hong Kong flu, we can avoid it.”

“Hmm, that’s a good idea. Take action quickly. If this fails, you’ll have to take off your clothes!” [A metaphor for losing your position].

“Yes, Comrade Chairman!”

*

Hong Kong, Disease Prevention Center.

The Research Director reported to the Center Director.

“At first, we thought it was a resurgence of the Asian Flu, but when we analyzed the strains, it was a new virus.”

“A new virus? Is it spreading this fast?”

“It’s not that the transmission speed is fast, but the infection rate is high because there is no immunity to the new virus at all.”

“Where did it start?”

“According to the epidemiological investigation, it started in places that had contact with mainland China.”

“So it was transmitted from China?”

“We checked with the Chinese medical department, but they say there are only normal cold patients. However, according to unofficial sources, a flu with similar symptoms to the current flu is rampant in Guizhou Province.”

“Like the Asian Flu before, the Chinese government is covering it up again!”

“If they had released the information quickly and implemented blockade quarantine, it wouldn’t have spread to Hong Kong.”

“Irresponsible officials! But what is the mortality rate?”

“Currently, it is approaching 2-3% among the elderly.”

“It’s not a fatal mortality rate?”

“That’s not true, Director. The mortality rate is not high, but the number of deaths could increase rapidly due to the high infection rate. We must declare a state of emergency immediately and enter emergency quarantine.”

“A state of emergency for the flu is too much. Let’s wait and see. Let’s inform the government first and raise it to the second level of quarantine.”

“We must report to the WHO first. We won’t be penalized if we report a new infectious disease.”

“Ah, that’s right. Report the situation immediately.”

*

3 months later.

The hospital pharmacy hadn’t even opened yet, but it was crowded with patients wearing thick clothes from the morning.

“Please admit me! My son is in critical condition!”

But the beds were already full, and half of the medical staff were infected and unable to provide treatment.

Hong Kong’s hospitals, public services, and industries were paralyzed.

In particular, Hong Kong’s telephone and power companies, which were all talk, had more than two-thirds of their employees infected, making normal operations impossible.

The Hong Kong government declared an emergency stop-movement order to its citizens.

WHO personnel were dispatched to control immigration, as well as quarantine airports and aircraft.

Korea was also on alert.

They measured the temperature of all arrivals at airports and ports and made it mandatory for Chinese arrivals to be quarantined for 3 days.

The Chinese ambassador strongly protested to the Korean government.

“Why are you effectively blocking only Chinese people from entering?”

“Because it is the origin of the Hong Kong flu.”

“The flu is a globally prevalent disease, so what does China have to do with it?”

“It’s called the Hong Kong flu, but it first broke out in Guizhou Province. And it spread all over the world because you didn’t release any information about the number of cases, etc.!”

“What are you talking about? It started in Hong Kong! It spread from Hong Kong to the mainland.”

“Anyway, it is rampant in Chinese countries, so we are following domestic quarantine regulations.”

In effect, entry from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan was restricted.

*

Hong Kong Executive Office.

The President held an emergency meeting.

The Minister of Health reported.

“The number of patients is increasing rapidly, and medical facilities and medical personnel are absolutely insufficient. Rather, the infection is spreading more due to hospital visits.”

The President said.

“Then you’re saying that there’s no other way but to self-quarantine.”

“That’s right. One member of the family should only pick up prescription medicine and self-quarantine at home. It is best to prevent patients from moving.”

“Let’s issue an administrative order prohibiting all patients and suspected cases from going out and self-quarantining. We can’t help it if the economy stops for a while, because it’s better than stopping forever.”

*

WHO Headquarters.

Director Huo Guo was excited.

“Secretary-General, the Hong Kong flu, a new virus, is becoming increasingly serious. I think we should declare a pandemic quickly.”

He emphasized the word ‘Hong Kong’ in particular.

The Secretary-General said.

“Thanks to Hong Kong’s quick reporting, it’s still in its early stages, and we’re blocking Hong Kong’s airports and ports to investigate the epidemiology, so I think it’s a little early to declare a pandemic.”

In fact, Huo Guo, who knew that it had been sweeping through mainland China for half a year, was busy hiding the truth and passing the responsibility on to Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong is a global trading port. Ships and planes from all over the world come and go, so I’m worried that it will spread all over the world.”

He laid the groundwork to dilute the results of the epidemiological investigation.

“As I said, we are preventing the spread overseas by ordering the suspension of WHO overseas travel and travel within Hong Kong, so let’s wait and see. A hasty pandemic declaration will shock the world economy.”

“W-well, then let’s watch a little more.”

He had to tell the truth, but he was losing his last chance to block the quarantine.

Contrary to China’s wishes, Hong Kong flu patients occurred in Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia two days later, and in the United States three days later.

Three months later, 500,000 people, 15% of Hong Kong’s population, were infected, and it began to spread throughout Asia, America, Europe, and Australia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Hong Kong flu a pandemic.

It was the first pandemic since the establishment of the WHO.

The Secretary-General briefed.

“If each country fails to quarantine, about 3 million people are expected to be infected, and more than 30,000 deaths are expected. We recommend that you stop moving and get vaccinated against the Hong Kong flu vaccine. We have received a report that a treatment will be available soon, so please refrain from traveling for a few weeks and do your best to quarantine.”

Based on the pandemic, each country began to regulate social and economic life.

And from this time on, the vaccines and treatments prepared in Korea began to shine.