COVID-19 Pandemic

## COVID-19 Pandemic

### **Concurrent**

Dinobot Invasion
Search for the Wall
War on Terror
Lily Elazar's War
School War
Attack on Earth
Second School War
Conquest of Westridge

### **Beginning**

December 2019 (unofficially)
March 2020 (officially)

### **Book(s)**

*Journey to Planet 12* (indirectly mentioned)
*Superquack
Boys vs. Girls: The Coming Darkness
Boys vs. Girls: The Rise of the Serpent
Superquack: Relapse of Power* (mentioned)
*Boys vs. Girls 2 Prelude* (indirectly mentioned)

*"You know nothing. Earth has never been united enough to deal with the abominations that are under their nose, let alone those which are far from their eyes. Dear children, all shall be revealed in time! Your pitiful world will fall! Do you hear me, boys? The specters are coming! The specters are coming! The specters are coming!"*
―Donheim subtly warning Lucy McCallin and her friends of the coronavirus pandemic[src]
The **COVID-19 Pandemic**, designated as **coronavirus disease 2019** or **corona virus** or **COVID-19** for short, was an ongoing pandemic in late 2019 and early-to-mid 2020, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a form of virus manipulated by the greedy John and exacerbated by the malevolent Mr. Baby Tutu. After the Skirmish in Quackville Bank, it was reported that more than 585,000 cases of COVID-19 had been reported in over 200 countries and territories, resulting in well over 25,000 deaths and 100,000 recoveries by that point.

According to Sheriff Bladepoint, the virus was mainly spread during close contact and via respiratory droplets discharged when people coughed or sneezed. Lou pointed out that people may also catch COVID-19 by touching a contaminated surface and then their face. It is most contagious when people are symptomatic, although spread may be possible before symptoms appear. The time between exposure and symptom onset is typically around five days, but may range from two days to two weeks. Common symptoms included fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Complications may include pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

## History

### 2019

*"It's derived from bats, erected by a toxicologist, exacerbated by aliens against their wishes. There was no one who knew of an antidote because no one knew of its nature... other than the Outriders."
"They were closer to the eye of the storm than anyone. Yet none of them grew ill because–"
"They developed an immunity before the WHO even realized COVID-19 was a thing."*
―Exogale and Superquack[src]
As a toxicologist hailing from China, John endeavored to create a pandemic to destabilize his country. Greatly fearing failure, he met the genocidal AI Mr. Baby Tutu, who promised to make the pandemic a reality if he obliged to portray the Iron Godking: the Dinobot Invasion began. The outbreak was first identified in China around the time the Battle of Skull Rock occurred in December of 2019. Over time, the Outriders apparently adapted to the infection, creating a natural immunity.

### 2020

*"I'm sure you know COVID-19 is not over yet. November 2020 it is, and yet it may be some time before a vaccine is found. Before the virus is eradicated, longer still."*
―The Warrior Chicken[src]
Against John's wishes, the pandemic spread far beyond China's borders and became bad enough to be recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. Although COVID-19 only affected Earth, the other worlds of Sol were still substantially threatened with disease. To protect themselves, Uranus dispatched breakout cutting-edge technology in order to prevent anyone from entering the gas giant at all by sending ionic supercharges deep in the planet's vast mist. After the Skirmish in Quackville Bank, it was reported that more than 585,000 cases of COVID-19 had been reported in over 200 countries and territories, resulting in approximately 26,800 deaths and more than 131,000 recoveries. Still, many were not vulnerable at all, as Harley indeed claimed to Superquack. Indeed, in May the stay-at-home orders became more lax. Yet by late September, doctors, scientists, and public-health specialists still didn't know how long immunity to the disease lasted for those who had survived constricting it. The culprit behind the pandemic was annihilated, however, heralding the climactic conclusion of the Dinobot Invasion; yet even with Mr. Baby Tutu fallen, the coronavirus raged on without its maker.

In November of 2020, the Warrior Chicken formally introduced himself to Superquack, and warned that COVID-19 was not over yet, and that humanity needed to find a vaccine before the virus became unsustainable. His misgivings were well-placed, as the governor of Utah proceeded to declare a state of emergency within a week of the Warrior Chicken's warning — the red code was reinstated. The pandemic prompted calls from voting rights groups, with some Democratic leaders to expand mail-in voting while Republican leaders were generally opposed to this. Some states were unable to agree on changes, resulting in lawsuits.

Bruce Wright initially planned to move in near where his girlfriend, Jena Kamen, was currently living by herself. Thanks to the quarantine and the travel restrictions that accompanied the pandemic, however, Bruce was forced to stay with his parents, while Jena was forced to remain by herself in her own home, resulting in their not seeing each other for months. Throughout the pandemic, Bruce and Jena contrasted each other in two important ways, for better or worse. First off, Bruce was able to remain in shape, which made it the opposite of Jena, whose already massive stomach ballooned out even further. Second, whereas Bruce was bored and kept brooding, Jena was an excellent sport, eventually citing others had it far worse and that she had more gut for Bruce to grab on to since her hair and stomach had always been a particularly huge turn-on for him.

Aside from his duties outside of the house, Superquack would on occasion stay up at night putting together his scientific genius and vast resources to develop a vaccine or antiviral treatment, as none was currently known to the world. Ultimately, he never succeeded to this end. However, primary treatment was symptomatic and supportive therapy. Being fully aware of this, Superquack had a list of measures he expected of his pupils to take on a regular basis to prevent constricting or spreading it. This included hand washing, covering one's mouth when coughing, and maintaining distance from other people. Additionally, pro-choicers tried to enforce the wearing of facial coverings, being supported by people like Morgan, while people like Janet jeered at the measure.

### 2021

*"Well, I never thought I would see days like these. You think you have it bad sometimes? Some men and women have been forced to get married in their own homes. Besides, look at this, so much more gut for you to grab onto, all of it currently in plain view..."
"[...] Your hair's longer, your belly's sticking out even further, you look absolutely gorgeous. The Sol System's not going to be Germ-Exed anytime soon and everyone does their part. Now we can pump the bottles together."*
―Jena Kamen and Bruce Wright[src]
Midway through 2021, an antidote was finally found, yet when Tanesha Thompson was vaccinated in May, she experienced an entire month of recurring illnesses. Furthermore, only one percent of people living in low-income Terran countries were vaccinated at all.

### 2022

*"Well he told her just how grateful he was to be quarantined with someone he actually enjoy talking to; she just looked at him and was like, 'Must be nice.'"*
―Jamie Thompson[src]
In 2022, COVID-19 was already mutating and forming problematic subvariants of itself. By October, the United States surpassed 99 million cases of COVID-19, the most cases of any country on Earth. There was good news as well, however, as the WHO believed that Earth was in a wonderful position to finally put an end to the pandemic and that an end was indeed in sight.

### 2023

*"A lot of young people barely comprehend pre-pandemic life at all, but we still have substantial transmission and deaths due to COVID. I believe the virus will remain with us for a good while longer."*
―Helen McKeen[src]
In 2023, substantial transmission and deaths were still a prime concern all around Earth. On May 11, the United States of America ended its national and public-health emergency declarations over COVID-19.

### Legacy of COVID-19

*"You see, when they say that all lives matter, the low levels of compassion they displayed when COVID-19 roared at the Terran world implied this was little more than dishonesty."*
―Genesis[src]
The coronavirus was well-remembered going into the 2030s, as a terror that had killed millions and a stark reminder of how insufficient Earth was to deal with relatively unconventional threats.

## Prevention measures

*"The end of stay-at-home orders does not signify the end of the pandemic, only that the ICU has a little more room."
"You really think it'll last long? It was made in China."
"I don't get it."*
―Superquack, Exogale, and Harley[src]

*"Wear a mask!"
"What if I don't want to?"
"You'll die!"
"My body, my future, my choice."
"It's not just* your *body involved!"
"You don't say..."*
―Morgan and Janet[src]
Many governments have mandated or recommended self-quarantine for entire populations living in affected areas. On March 22, 2020, Germany banned public gatherings of more than two people. Thanks to the quarantine and the travel restrictions that accompanied the pandemic, some couples were separated, while others remained together, resulting in Tanesha starting to get sick of hearing Tyrone talk her ear off all the time. Additionally, many business have mandated wearing masks, especially in 2020.

## Impact on Earth

*"The coronavirus, it slew thousands."*
―Titanium Girl[src]
The pandemic has led to severe global socioeconomic disruption, the postponement or cancellation of sporting, religious, and cultural events, and widespread fears of supply shortages which had spurred panic buying. Toilet paper was widely considered a particular necessity, causing Mr. Tutusymbol to joke to Superquack that he was concerned for the welfare of people's teeth, though Harley later said that it had become a widely spread phenomenon. The latter overheard Janet saying that her grandmother had passed nine stores and not been able to find any toilet paper anywhere. Efforts to prevent the virus spreading included travel restrictions, quarantines, curfews, workplace hazard controls, facility closures and, as stated before, the postponements and cancellations of events. Numerous schools and universities in more than one hundred twenty countries, including Superhero School and Superhero University, closed either on a nationwide or local basis, affecting more than a billion students. Misinformation and conspiracy theories about the virus have spread online.

## Behind the scenes

* D. Isaac Thomas debated using COVID-19 to further the plot of *Superquack* or the early The Super Babies Saga, ultimately selecting the latter, but refusing to confirm if the decision was permanent. This may be his attempt to subtly imply he may be changing the entire timeline.

## Trivia

* The pandemic is known by several names. It is often referred as the "coronavirus pandemic" in news media, despite the existence of other human coronaviruses that have caused epidemics and outbreaks, such as SARS for example.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 *Superquack*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 *Superquack: Relapse of Power*
3. ↑ *Journey to Planet 12*
4. ↑ *Boys vs. Girls: The Fate of the Towers*
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 D.I.T. Website
6. ↑ *Boys vs. Girls: The Rise of the Serpent*
7. ↑ *Annie and the Blue-Eared Kid 2*
8. ↑ *Boys vs. Girls 2*
9. ↑ *Band of Justice*
10. ↑ *S.M.S.B.: Where Are You Now?*
11. ↑ *Boys vs. Girls 2 Prelude*

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