Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is threatening to file a lawsuit if one of the state's biggest tourism sectors is not allowed to resume operations soon. “Appearing at Port Canaveral with leaders from
Carnival, Norwegian, Disney and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, DeSantis and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said they are exploring the state's legal options if the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention does not allow U.S.-based cruising to resume by summer,” according to The Associated Press. “The state is the nation's cruise capital with three of the world's busiest
ports: Miami, Port Canaveral near Kennedy Space Center, and Port Everglades near Fort Lauderdale. Millions typically cruise from Florida each year and the industry generates billions for the state's
economy.”
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Read the whole story at Associated Press »
I am anxious to start cruising again, and I feel sorry for the people who rely on the industry for their livlihood.
However, DeSantis has a history of favoring business and financial considerations over public health. He is just like Governor Kemp in Georgia who ignored the advice of health officials and made statements and took actions contrary to the science.
There is hopefully a middle ground (e.g. everyone vaccinated) that will allow the cruise lines to safely start operating in the U,S.again. The CDC does need to act rather than remaining silent on the conditions required to start cruises again..
Why not insist that the cruise lines use fully staffed, jazzed- up hospital ships---not their regular ones---as a compromise. That way, when everyone ---or almost everyone---gets hit with the virus, you get a head start on treating them. Of course, this doesn't help the inevitable virus spike when the ships return and lots of Covid 19 carriers are unleashed on stay-at-home members of their families as well as friends and strangers---but it's a start.
The first line of my last post should be, "Why not insist that they use----". Sorry.