Cruise ship with coronavirus outbreak sails to uncertain Florida welcome [View all]
Source: Reuters
A Dutch cruise ship that has been in limbo since cases of the coronavirus were confirmed onboard faces an uncertain welcome at its planned destination in Florida, where the governor says he does not want sick passengers “dumped” on the state.
Holland America Line’s MS Zaandam was allowed to pass through the Panama Canal on Sunday. It had been stuck off Panama’s Pacific coast after the company announced the vessel had confirmed cases of the coronavirus on board and that four guests had died. Company president Orlando Ashford urged authorities to allow people off the ship, describing the situation as a “test of our humanity.”
Zaandam guests that passed screening - nearly two-thirds - were moved to its sister ship Rotterdam before transiting the canal. Both ships are now bound for Fort Lauderdale but it remains unclear who will be allowed to disembark in Florida, where concerns about the coronavirus are mounting.
“We cannot afford to have people who aren’t even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told Fox News on Monday, referring to the state’s medical facilities and hospital capacity. DeSantis told a news conference on Monday the best solution was to send medical help onto Zaandam.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-cruise-zaandam/cruise-ship-with-coronavirus-outbreak-sails-to-uncertain-florida-welcome-idUSKBN21I3CV
But DeSabtus loves all the cruise ships that constantly dock at Florida ports, just as he likes all the New York snow birds and tourists. During normal times.
He should try to work something out with the cruise line.
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