Florida governor Ron DeSantis is putting on a clinic in bad decision-making during the coronavirus epidemic.
DeSantis decided today to rescue 49 Floridians off a cruise ship that has been hit hard by coronavirus.
The other 1,600 or so passengers, including 250 Americans and 400 Canadians, will be left on the ship that has already been at sea for more than three weeks.
Governor DeSantis now says he’ll take the 49 Floridians off the cruise ship sitting of his shores. He won’t take the other 250 Americans or the 400 Canadians. So much for the country pulling together. Thanks for the national leadership @realDonaldTrump
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) April 1, 2020
As @GovRonDeSantis decides to only rescue Floridians off his coast – leaving to die the other 250 Americans, 400 Canadians (numbers per George Conway) and more than 1,000 other foreigners, I say this:
All tourists NEVER go to Florida again.
Travel ad: “Florida: We’ll kill you.”
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) April 1, 2020
Here are more details on the ship:
Claim one free share of stock from Robinhood
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press conference Wednesday his state was willing to accept Floridians on board Holland America cruise ships seeking to disembark in Florida after more than 190 guests and crew reported flu-like symptoms, including eight passengers who tested positive for COVID-19.
Florida officials, DeSantis said, are “working on a solution” to disembark other passengers, including foreign nationals, in a way that does not drain resources in South Florida, the state’s epicenter of COVID-19 cases.
“My concern is that we have worked so hard to make sure we have adequate hospital space in the event of a COVID-19 surge, we wouldn’t want those valuable beds to be taken because of the cruise ship(s),” DeSantis said.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was going to speak with DeSantis about whether to allow the MS Zaandam to dock.
“They’re dying on the ship,” Trump said. “I’m going to do what’s right. Not only for us, but for humanity.”
This is just the latest questionable decision made by DeSantis, who issued a stay-at-home order earlier this day.
ICYMI: After resisting the measure for weeks, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home order Wednesday pic.twitter.com/6BBlHzRDMJ
— QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) April 2, 2020
Approximately three hours ago, Florida had 6,946 confirmed coronavirus cases and 86 deaths.
