There’s another Covid-19 outbreak on a South Florida-based cruise ship “for the third time this week,” as Florida’s case count “hit its highest level since the start of the pandemic,” ABC News reported on Friday, December 24, 2021 (story here).
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who seems hellbent on killing as many of his constituents as possible, has fought with the federal government over imposing mandates on cruise ship operators, many of whom operate out of Florida. (He’s also fought to shove kids back into classrooms, and prohibited schools from requiring them to wear masks, so it looks like he’s trying to sicken and kill children, too.)
Last spring, when DeSantis issued a “vaccination gag order,” i.e., an executive order prohibiting businesses from asking customers about their vaccination status, Norwegian Cruise Lines responded it would stop doing business in the state (article here). Two other large cruise lines, Carnival and Royal Caribbean attempted work-arounds instead. A judge eventually sided with Norwegian, allowing the company to ignore DeSantis’ order, but the Delta wave inflicted another lost season on the industry. (See article here.)
You may recall that at the beginning of the pandemic, some cruise ship passengers were trapped for weeks aboard their ships. Back then, DeSantis refused to let them debark in Florida (see story here). Which makes you wonder, if passengers get sick at sea, whether he’ll allow them to return?
In any case, people now boarding cruise ships in Florida are getting sick by the dozens. DeSantis isn’t to blame for the pandemic, or its effects on cruise lines and other businesses. But he isn’t helpful, either.
Why talk about DeSantis, the archenemy of public health and common sense? Because he wants to be president, and if Trump doesn’t run in 2024, is likely to be the GOP frontrunner. What he’s doing to Florida, he and his supporters are determined to do to the entire country.
Don’t vote for that.
Related story: Passengers on a Holland America cruise to Puerto Vallarta are stuck on the ship for Christmas because of an outbreak (read story here).
Photo: Early in the pandemic, Gov. DeSantis wouldn’t let this Dutch cruise ship dock in Florida, or allow its sick passengers on Florida soil
Yet there is little or no difference between outcomes when compared to California.
That’s true, as far as it goes, but it proves little or nothing. It’s merely a specious talking point. Looking closer, you find it’s an apples-and-oranges comparison (analysis here). Looking at all the states, you’ll find those with fewer restrictions usually have worse outcomes (see comments here).