Matt’s Reviews > The Premonition: A Pandemic Story > Status Update

The L6 - the person layers down a bureaucratic chain who has the actual knowledge to act in a time of crisis. In this case, it’s Charity Dean. Through observation of the Diamond Princess cruise, the Wolverines learn more about the infection, hospitalization, and fatality rate of the virus. This informs their plan of intervention which Charity finally gets before the CA governor.

Charity Dean is being severely underutilized as the number two CA public-health officer outside of helping care for the abused immigrants at the border. She recognizes the looming virus but doesn’t have the authority to make any changes… until she connects with the Wolverines.

It’s here. Cases are rising but the serious threat is what isn’t seen. Mecher and the Wolverines estimate the damage of the virus early on in late Jan/early Feb, but don’t have the access to implement any interventions. Instead the WH and CDC are dragging their feet, afraid to make any claims about a pandemic occurring.

Flip from Bush to Obama leads to less concern for pandemic response until the Swine Flu hits. Mecher is disappointed with passive response but ultimately the bullet is dodged.

Lead team of Richard Hatchett, Carter Mecher, and Lisa Koonin continue to develop pandemic response plan with help of models built by Bob Glass and his daughter. They face difficulties getting buy in on responses like social distancing and closing schools from the CDC and other leaders until they start framing the response with emotional narrative

Focused on the work of Santa Barbara public health officer Dr. Charity Dean & Bush’s team forming for a pandemic response plan