NEW SEASON BEGINS AS E.R. STAFF ABANDONS HOSPITAL LEAVING SOME DOCTORS QUARANTINED AFTER DEADLY ILLNESS IDENTIFIED

Resuming from last year's season finale, the hospital remains in lockdown while the Center for Disease Control probes a mysterious and deadly illness that leaves Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle), Abby (Maura Tierney) and others quarantined. While Dr. Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) initially is left alone and fights to save one patient, Carter and Abby grow resolved to their romantic fate over the next several days as they idle away their time inside the hospital with Drs. Chen (Ming-Na) and Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) and veteran patient Stan the Can (guest star Harrison Page).

Meanwhile, newly widowed Dr. Corday (Alex Kingston) struggles to adapt to her new medical practice in her native England while over-shadowed by her attentive parents (guest stars Paul Freeman and Judy Parfitt). Laura Innes, Goran Visnjic, Paul McCrane and Sharif Atkins also star.