The Meeting
It's easy to forget just how alarming the initial news stories on radio, television and social media were. Influencers and commentators were obsessed with “superspreaders,” individuals said to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds, often for reasons beyond their control. While other care homes began their descent into chaos, Meirion Court, known for its opulence and personalised support, had an Action Plan - a bold, unprecedented strategy born of our healthy profit margins, high occupancy rates and its silent partnership. And it was Molly, one of our most recent arrivals, who made me depart from our traditional relationship with NHS managers, who inspired me to formalise the unconventional. The morning after the first British citizen died of Covid, I called a residents' meeting, the first of its kind, but not the last, to discuss a voluntary lockdown.
Welcome, everyone!” I paused and looked around the lounge. All 40 residents had managed to find a seat at the circular table, and the staff were standing behind them. I thought to myself: this is my stage, and I have to tell the truth as best I can. “Thank you for coming. You’ll all know Molly Fitzwalter and how forthright she can be… Eight days ago, she came to me with the solution to a problem I did not know I had.”
“That problem is Covid. It may seem a long way off, but all the signs are that it’s spreading fast. Until a week ago, I knew nothing about the virus or the threat it poses, and I suspect many of you here will be in a similar situation. I’m no expert, so I’ve asked Molly and a couple of our other residents to put us all in the picture. We will take it slow and give you plenty of time to ask any questions that come to mind. But it seems to me that we now have to be proactive. I need to take soundings from you all before I commit, and that’s why I called this meeting.”
Molly had persuaded Sam Smithers, the visually impaired, retired data analyst from Police Headquarters, to crunch the figures for us. He sat at the front, a steady presence, though I could see the strain in his brow as he prepared to deliver his findings. I briefly reminded everyone of the photo in the foyer of his Buckingham Palace investiture for reducing the local crime rate. “Sam is our expert witness. If anyone can help us solve this problem, it’s Sam.”
Sam's analysis
“Many thanks for the introduction. Long retired, of course … but I’ve done my best, ladies and gentlemen, to cross-reference the latest figures from the Department of Health, the World Health Organisation, and some of the more reliable open-source medical journals … Gentlemen, ladies … it’s grim.” As he spoke, he tapped his white cane nervously. His voice carried a chilling authority.
“The rates of infection are not merely multiplying; they are soaring. Statisticians refer to R numbers – R for rates of reproduction - a figure expressing the average number of cases of an infection arising by transmission from a single infected individual. At present, the average number of people that one person in the Far East infected with Covid is three. Those three affect nine, those nine infect 27 and in another 13 rounds, say in a fortnight’s time, one million around the world could be sick. Any questions or comments so far?”
Will they succeed?
Without giving too much away, the most captivating aspect lies in the fundamental question: can these highly intelligent and wealthy individuals truly work together for the benefit of all? Dive into "Meirion Court" to discover the outcome of this extraordinary meeting. Find out more in the full novel!