Part 4: Chapter 5 Summary

All Souls' Day, in normal times a day of visitation to the graves of the dead is largely ignored this year. Cottard remarks that each day is a Day of the Dead. The plague goes on unabated, the only variation being that the daily count is not increasing; at the same time, it is not decreasing. There are now many more cases of pneumonic disease than bubonic. Victims of the pneumonic variety succumb more quickly. Dr. Castel's serums seem to be bringing about some recoveries, and he still works feverishly to produce them. The medical workers are able to keep up with the daily demands but are working long, exhausting hours.

The newspapers are putting out messages of optimism even though there is no evidence to justify that message. They have been instructed by those in control that they must continue...