Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been roundly criticized for his handling of the pandemic that's caused a public health crisis in the United States.
DeSantis waited until Wednesday to announce a stay-at-home order for his state of Florida, where the virus is nearing 7,000 cases.
Now, a cruise ship with 190 passengers experiencing flu-like symptoms is desperate to disembark so its passengers can receive medical assistance. So far, four people on the ship have died.
In a time when Republicans are calling for the nation to come together, DeSantis's plan leaves a lot to be desired.
The Governor told reporters:
"We are going to be willing to accept Floridians on board. My understanding is most of the passengers are foreign nationals."
DeSantis went on to say he was worried that providing medical assistance to the ship's passengers would result in hospitals overcrowding.
The remarks were consistent with what DeSantis told Fox News in an interview on Monday:
"We cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources."
DeSantis's lack of concern for the hundreds of people aboard the ship didn't sit well with some.
Some considered DeSantis's actions indicative of his party's values.
There are over 1200 people aboard the ship.
