Quarantine Zones, commonly called QZs, were fortified urban safe zones established by @FEDRA and surviving military forces during the early years of the outbreak. Their purpose was to contain infection, preserve civilian populations, and maintain order under martial law after the collapse of normal government infrastructure.
Major cities such as @Boston, @Seattle, and @Salt Lake City operated as quarantine zones at various points following the outbreak. Most QZs were surrounded by walls, checkpoints, military patrols, curfews, and heavily controlled entry systems designed to prevent infected individuals from entering populated areas.
Life inside the QZs was harsh and heavily regulated. Civilians relied on ration systems, labor assignments, black markets, and military protection to survive. Executions, forced quarantines, shortages, corruption, and civil unrest became common in many zones over time.
Some quarantine zones eventually collapsed due to infection outbreaks, rebellion, starvation, or internal conflict. Others survived for decades as isolated remnants of organized civilization.