Before the relocation plan of Australasia could be officially executed, the sudden news from Director Batty of the Royal Security Intelligence Agency changed Arthur’s expression instantly, and an ergency cabinet eting was ordered, with all cabinet mbers to be present.
The Royal Security Intelligence Agency had acquired a large amount of warti intelligence for Australasia during the war, and its current scale had grown trendously.
Thanks to Australasia’s status as a colonial country, intelligence personnel of the Royal Security Intelligence Agency could be Germans, British, Russians or East Asians.
It could be said that the personnel of the Security Bureau could disguise themselves as civilians from most countries, which was conducive to intelligence exploration in Europe and the Aricas.
The intelligence that changed Arthur’s expression ca from the United States and so European countries.
Although the war had ended early, Arthur knew that a crisis more dangerous than war was about to co.
According to Director Batty’s report, as early as March or April this year, a rapidly spreading influenza had occurred in the military camps of Kansas State in the United States.
The symptoms of this flu were only headaches, high fever, muscle soreness and loss of appetite, without any danger, so it was not taken seriously by the United States.
It was not until more than a month later, due to the convening of the Paris Peace Conference, that the flu that had spread in the United States was brought to Europe and began to spread in France, and along with the Paris Peace Conference, it spread to the United Kingdom, Spain, and other countries.
Director Batty sensed sothing was wrong because it was extrely similar to the flu that Arthur had instructed to spread from the United States and Europe first.
Without any hesitation, Director Batty requested an audience with Arthur and reported on the latest situation of the flu in Europe and the United States.
Although the flu has frequently occurred in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Italy, it has not yet been fatal, and has not been taken seriously by any country.
Everyone thought it was just a common cold, and most people just took so common cold dicine and left it alone.
Of course, there were many civilians and low-inco people in the areas where the flu was spreading, and these people cared even less, after all, they did not have enough money to buy dicines.
If Arthur rembered correctly, the famous Spanish Flu in history actually started spreading in the United States, and the first spread did not pose a significant threat.
It was not until the second spread that the Spanish Flu demonstrated its dangers, killing at least 25 million people, more than the World War I deaths.
Upon learning that the flu may have broken out, Arthur had no hesitation or doubt, imdiately convened a cabinet eting and issued an order for Australasia to enter a warti state.
Arthur demanded that most coastal ports be closed, with only a few ports remaining open for external communication.
The ports that remained open needed to be isolated, and no communication with the non-opening areas was allowed in the short term.
anwhile, Arthur requested the governnt to prepare an order requiring all Australasians to self-monitor and, once symptoms of flu such as headache, high fever, muscle soreness, and loss of appetite were detected, to report to the governnt-established isolation points imdiately and minimize contact with others as much as possible.
In addition, almost all external channels, including airship flights, were closed.
Only Arthur knew how exaggerated this flu was, and if it was not taken seriously, at any ti the population of Australasia could be sharply reduced by more than one-fifth.
Under Arthur’s orders, the governnt quickly issued an announcent, and Australasia instantly entered a closed state.
Maintaining a few open ports not only received immigrants but also ensured the supply of overseas colonies.
After all, there were a considerable number of people in the major colonies, and they could not be starved to death because of this flu.
At the sa ti, under the supervision of the Australasian governnt, state and urban governnts began setting up isolated zones away from the cities and encouraged residents with symptoms to go for quarantine. The governnt would provide free accommodation and supplies for them.
For a ti, Australasia was in motion due to the governnt’s orders, but it also quickly caused great panic among the people.
This kind of temporary state without any declaration and strict control was the scariest, and no one knew exactly what had happened to the governnt, or why it had suddenly entered a warti state after the victory of the war.
On May 27, 1918, the second day that Australasia entered military control, the Australasian Royal Science Academy contacted dostic and foreign dia and broke sensational news that a highly fatal flu is spreading worldwide and that most parts of Europe have beco infected.
In order to show respect for allies and the importance of the World Alliance, while breaking the news, the Australasian governnt contacted the four great powers of the Allies and all mber countries of the World Alliance, urging their governnts to take it seriously, as this flu was enough to destroy a country.
Frankly speaking, after hearing the warning from Australasia, most countries including Britain and France had only one thought - the people of Australasia had gone mad.
If there were such a deadly flu in Europe, they and these countries would not have been unaware of it and could not have been discovered first by Australasia.
Despite the stern rhetoric of the Australasian governnt’s warning, not many countries paid attention to the flu exposed by Australasia.
So countries did take the issue seriously, but after consulting with their dostic dical institutions or research labs and learning that there was indeed a flu outbreak, they learned that it was not deadly and thus, they dismissed Australasia’s warning.
So countries even publicly opposed Australasia’s warning, accusing it of undermining world peace and stability with its baseless claims and harming the interests of the countries where the flu had spread.
This is considered a serious disruption to world order, damaging the interests of the countries affected by the flu outbreak exposed by Australasia.
As the saying goes, seeing is believing, and even if there is such a flu outbreak, most countries wouldn’t dare to issue the relevant orders.
Especially a complete lockdown like Australasia, which would severely harm the interests of all major classes within the country and could even lead to the overthrow of the governnt.
Other countries are unlikely to take action just because of Australasia’s words unless the epidemic is already quite severe; otherwise, such a major decision would not be made by the governnt.
As European countries question Australasia’s exposure and condemn it for undermining world order, Arthur has already ordered the governnt to distribute supplies and disinfectants to all people for free.
Masks, along with gas masks, have been mass-produced, and Australasia currently has a large stockpile of masks specifically prepared for this flu outbreak.
A large number of gas masks have also been prepared for frontline port and hospital workers, providing better protection against the flu virus.
The exposure by the Australasia Science Academy has caused considerable shock both dostically and internationally, with most people in the country trusting the Academy.
After all, the Australasian governnt has never done anything absurd up to this point, and the public clearly prefers to trust the governnt rather than condemn it.
Although the closure of ports is detrintal to people’s livelihoods, most people have no objection, and many of them even believe they have symptoms and voluntarily go to the isolation points established by the governnt.
The isolation points are quite simple, so are independent buildings that have been temporarily requisitioned as urban isolation points.
So, due to their remote location, use a large number of tents as isolation points, but each person can have their own tent.
Supplies for the isolated people are delivered on ti every day, and their eating, drinking, and living are all taken care of by the governnt.
Although the exposure from the Royal Science Academy may probability be exaggerated, many people are still very concerned and afraid of being infected with a highly fatal disease.
In response to this, Arthur stepped forward to stabilize Australasia’s order, introducing warti and control asures in the country to completely cut off the spread of the virus from abroad.
In order to prevent the spread of influenza that has already occurred in Australasia, Arthur encouraged all those with symptoms to go to isolation points to avoid transmission to family, friends, and others.
Of course, the governnt promised to provide sufficient supplies to everyone, ensuring that people would not be troubled by hunger in any situation.
People who went to the isolation points would also receive priority in the provision of living supplies.
Once a true case of transmission is found, the royal family and the governnt would bear all dical expenses, ensuring that people would not have to struggle with the severe flu.
The day after Arthur stood up to reassure the people, state and city governnts began distributing masks, disinfectants, and so supplies to the people to ensure their lives would not be affected.
Although the external channels have been closed, the circulation within major cities has not been affected. However, Arthur requires people to wear masks in public places to reduce the probability of transmitting the virus to others and becoming infected.
Arthur’s high popularity and esteem played a role in this as well. With Arthur’s call, a vast majority of people willingly wore masks when entering public places, even if they were dissatisfied with the governnt’s policy.
Those who did not wear masks were condemned by the majority and had to hurriedly return ho to wear masks before going out again.
While there were so who refused to wear masks, they were quickly reported and invited to the local police station for tea and als for several days.
At the sa ti, Arthur also required all governnt personnel and workers to wear masks during work and in public places.
If wearing a mask is unsuitable for a particular job, the entire enterprise and factory would be quarantined, with the governnt delivering materials to the factories.
This system is sowhat based on the experience of later generations but is definitely effective in defending against such a severe flu outbreak.
Australasia’s vast land and sparse population, coupled with the strict quarantine asures, may not guarantee that there will be no flu cases, but it can be confidently believed that the impact would not be too severe.
As for the economic losses caused by these quarantine policies and blockade policies, there is no alternative, as a little economic loss is much better than tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of casualties.
Under Arthur’s call, all classes in Australasia have also taken action, presenting a stark contrast to the laughter and joy outside the country, as if they were in two different worlds.
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