Family of dead British man appeal to Florida to let Zaandam dock
"Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, has said the passengers, many of whom are elderly,
cannot be “dumped” in his state, dismissing them as mostly “foreigners”. On Tuesday, the US president, Donald Trump, said he would speak to DeSantis about allowing the cruise liners into port, but no local permission has yet been given.
Brown appealed to local officials in Broward county, south-east Florida, to let the Zaandam and Rotterdam into port. She said her aunt was stuck in a room with her husband’s possessions and was desperate to get off the ship.
She told the Guardian: “It has been horrendous. As soon as it happened, they had to go into isolation. She’s obviously isolated in a room with all of her husband’s items. She is not feeling well herself, she has got symptoms – a really severe cough. I have just spoken to her and she is coughing away. She is completely isolated grieving my uncle. She’s only got one channel on the TV – the news.”
Brown, an NHS midwife, said she did not know if her uncle, a businessman, had tested positive for Covid-19, but he was on a ventilator before he died.
Three other people have died on the Zaandam, while nine have tested positive for Covid-19 and dozens of others are ill with flu-like symptoms.
Brown said her uncle had been feeling well on the Friday before he died but quickly deteriorated after visiting the cruise liner’s medical centre on Saturday.
Appealing to local officials and to Trump, Brown said: “These are people. They are people that are unwell and they need to get home. It is the most inhumane thing. I feel desperately sorry for the crew. I feel like the crew is being ignored and it’s all about the passengers. These are human beings and they need help, whatever nationality they are from.
“We need to allow them to dock. They cannot just leave people who are seriously ill out at sea. They have tried to put a plan in place, but they have to allow the ship to dock initially first. You cannot just leave people out at sea with nothing. More people are going to die.” "
Cruise Ship Struggling With COVID-19 Headed To Florida
A little bit more info - so a total of 1243 passengers, 305 US, 250 Canadians, 120 Australians and (1243-675) 568 passengers from Ireland, the United Kingdom and other European countries.
"Holland America says a combined 1,243 passengers and 1,247 crew are aboard the Zaandam and a sister ship, the Rotterdam. Holland America sent the Rotterdam to bring medical personnel and supplies to the Zaandam last week after dozens became sick and four elderly passengers died. A number of elderly, but healthy passengers considered at risk were moved to the Rotterdam. Both ships went through the Panama Canal earlier this week.
Under the plan Carnival is discussing with Broward County officials, the company would charter planes and buses to take healthy passengers directly from the port in Fort Lauderdale to their destinations. Among the many foreign passengers on the cruise, Carnival says there were 250 Canadians, 120 Australians, plus passengers from Ireland, the United Kingdom and other European countries.
Although nearly 120 crew members and 76 guests have been sick with flu-like symptoms, Carnival vice president Bill Burke says at least 60 have totally recovered. Seven people are sick enough that they're being treated in the ship's medical center. Two are so sick, the company has asked Mexico for permission to take them there for treatment. Burke said Mexico has refused. Speaking in person at the County Commission meeting, he said, "We are coming to the place of last resort. Now, I hope that those two people we would like to medevac today to Mexico will survive the couple-day transit."
The commission deferred action until a plan is finalized that gives the county assurances sick passengers and crew members from the Zaandam won't be a burden on area hospitals. Broward County Commissioner Nan Rich says once the plan is finalized, the ship should be allowed to dock. She said, "These people have been turned away from so many countries, one after the other. We are their last hope. What are we going to do? Let the ship go back out to sea and just float around and let people die? I don't think so." "
but TV is the easiest while attempting to multitask
