Holland America cruise ships with over 200 sick passengers and crew reach deal to disembark in Flori

[libertybele]

Damn it!  DeSantis caves!!  Support of President Trump!!! What happened to Americans first??? 


Holland America cruise ships with over 200 sick passengers and crew reach deal to disembark in Florida


Two Holland America Line cruise ships carrying hundreds of sick passengers and crew members are currently anchored off the Florida coast, awaiting final clearance to disembark after reaching a conditional arrangement with local authorities.

The Zaandam and the Rotterdam arrived early on Thursday morning, with 233 passengers and crew who, at some point since March 22, were said to have been exhibiting “influenza-like illness symptoms," according to Holland America. At least eight of the people onboard had tested positive for COVID-19; four “older” guests were also confirmed to have died on the Zaandam last week.

....................Both ships were also denied permission to enter U.S. waters until a “suitable plan” had been submitted to Broward’s Unified Command, which includes members of the Coast Guard, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Customs and Border Protection, Florida Department of Health officials and the management of Port Everglades, where the ships are likely hoping to dock.

Speaking with Neil Cavuto later on Wednesday, DeSantis confirmed that officials were indeed “working on a plan” to allow Florida residents to disembark and expatriate foreign nationals. “We were concerned about a deluge into our hospitals,” but ultimately said that the local hospitals believe they can manage the cases...........

Both ships will now wait just outside of U.S. waters near Fort Lauderdale, where they will remain until receiving final clearance to disembark, Holland America Line said in a statement shared Wednesday night.

“We remain fully engaged with the Broward Unified Command and other governmental and embassy authorities to resolve this humanitarian situation and get the nearly 1,200 well guests home immediately who are fit for travel per guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” Holland America wrote.

“We appreciate the support of President Trump in resolving the humanitarian plight of our guests — 311 of whom are American citizens and 52 of whom are residents of Florida.”...........

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/holland-america-cruise-ships-with-over-200-sick-passengers-and-crew-reaches-deal-to-disembark-in-florida

[Neverdul]

So what do you think should have happened?  Do we let these ships stay out at sea indefinately until everyone on board (over 2,400 passengers and crew members) dies from the virus and or starves to death because they can't be resupplied if they can't dock?

It's rather disengenous that DeSantis is suddenenly concerned the sick passengers could overwhelm Florida's hospital system when it was only yesterday that he began to take this seriously and issued a statewide stay-at-home order and only after a servere spike in cases and hospitalizations.

[libertybele]

So what do you think should have happened?  Do we let these ships stay out at sea indefinately until everyone on board (over 2,400 passengers and crew members) dies from the virus and or starves to death because they can't be resupplied if they can't dock?

It's rather disengenous that DeSantis is suddenenly concerned the sick passengers could overwhelm Florida's hospital system when it was only yesterday that he began to take this seriously and issued a statewide stay-at-home order and only after a servere spike in cases and hospitalizations.

I have no problem letting AMERICAN citizens off the ship and into our hospitals.  That's not the case.  Most on that ship are foreigners wanting to come into the U.S. for care!  Turn the damn ship around and let them get care from the country that they came from!

As for as DeSantis being disengenous -- We have 3 counties that make up 90% of the cases here in FL.  One of them being a hot spot haven for ILLEGALS.  I've been in that area, it's like a 3rd world country where people refuse to assimilate; drug and human smuggling is known to prevail in that area.  Most of the other counties have minimal infection.  DeSantis restricted travel in  the counties with the most infection and let the others function -- as it is ALL restaurants other take out have been closed, libraries, beaches, schools, parks, playgrounds have been shut down in the entire state for weeks prior to this. Travel was restricted in the 3 counties in order to prevent rapid and increased infection into other counties.

So now, we have ALL counties in FL with restricted travel, but yet they are allowing travel of foreign nationals into our state.  Gee, what's wrong with that picture??

The virus is expected to "peak" within the next week to two weeks -- we're letting in two ships of people that are going to take up room in our hospitals meaning that Americans who needing care may not get the care that they need.

In my area, with minimal infection, doctors are cancelling appointments to keep patients at a distance to prevent the spread of the virus --- yet they are letting foreigners in for care?   Again, what's wrong with that picture?

Americans once again, are pushed aside to make way for everyone else and their brother!!!