- Oct 17, 2011
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Passengers from an ill-fated South American cruise are anxious to disembark once they reach Florida, but Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state's health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on another ship's coronavirus caseload. The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday that the decision would be punted to Washington if authorities can't agree.
The governor said he had been in contact with the White House about diverting them.
“We cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources,” DeSantis told Fox News on Monday.
“This ship has been turned away from several countries already," [Broward County Sheriff] Tony said. "We are in some very, very critical circumstances where we as a county are going to have to determine are we willing to take on this responsibility.”
“Florida continues to receive flights from New York, and it allowed spring break gatherings to go on as planned. Why turn their backs on us?" Gabaroni said.
The Zaandam originally departed from Buenos Aires on March 7 — a day before the U.S. State Department advised to avoid cruise travel and before any substantial restrictions were in place in Florida. DeSantis declared a state of emergency in the state two days later.
The ship had been scheduled to stop in San Antonio, Chile, and then depart on another 20-day cruise to Fort Lauderdale in early April. But beginning March 15, the Zaandam was denied entry by port after port.
Passenger Emily Spindler Brazell, of Tappahannock, Virginia, said they've been treated to extravagant meals, wine and unlimited phone calls, but have had to isolate in their rooms.
“The captain said something like, ‘This is not a trip anymore. This is not a cruise. This is a humanitarian mission,’" she said.
The governor said he had been in contact with the White House about diverting them.
“We cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources,” DeSantis told Fox News on Monday.
“This ship has been turned away from several countries already," [Broward County Sheriff] Tony said. "We are in some very, very critical circumstances where we as a county are going to have to determine are we willing to take on this responsibility.”
“Florida continues to receive flights from New York, and it allowed spring break gatherings to go on as planned. Why turn their backs on us?" Gabaroni said.
The Zaandam originally departed from Buenos Aires on March 7 — a day before the U.S. State Department advised to avoid cruise travel and before any substantial restrictions were in place in Florida. DeSantis declared a state of emergency in the state two days later.
The ship had been scheduled to stop in San Antonio, Chile, and then depart on another 20-day cruise to Fort Lauderdale in early April. But beginning March 15, the Zaandam was denied entry by port after port.
Passenger Emily Spindler Brazell, of Tappahannock, Virginia, said they've been treated to extravagant meals, wine and unlimited phone calls, but have had to isolate in their rooms.
“The captain said something like, ‘This is not a trip anymore. This is not a cruise. This is a humanitarian mission,’" she said.