TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami / NSF) – Governor Ron DeSantis supports lifting federal restrictions on COVID-19 to travelers from the UK and Brazil to Florida’s troubled tourism industry.
With advances in immediate testing and airline cleaning protocols, DeSantis said relaxing traveller-related regulations would affect central Florida, especially entertainment venues that have also intensified efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.
“To absolutely avoid it at this point, I think it’s counterproductive,” DeSantis said at an appearance on the Heathrow campus of Seminole State College, Florida. “I think it would be very good for this component of the state to be able to have this vacation And I just don’t see that as something that really replaces COVID’s trajectory here. “
With exceptions, the federal has imposed restrictions on travellers who, in the last 14 days, have travelled to China, Iran, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil and European countries in the so-called Schengen area, such as Germany and France. Italy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
DeSantis added that if Brazil appears to be “behind” its COVID-19 epidemics, the easing of regulations in Europe might have to wait “for what they’re going through lately. “
The UK has begun to restore the blockades that were noticed in March, as Europe reports a momentary wave of viruses.
Florida received about 12. 8 million travelers in the last quarter of this year, with businesses closed in April and amid reopening efforts in May and June, up from 32. 4 million at the same time the previous year.
Included in these figures, foreigners rose from 2. 65 million in the quarter of 2019 to 235,000 at the time of this year.
In recent years, the UK accounted for about 10. 5% of foreign visitors to the state and Brazil accounted for about 8. 5%, at the time and third in Canada.
DeSantis also warned that immediate testing can only be used for the cruise shipping industry, which remains under a “do not sail” order until the end of October from the CDC.
“Obviously, it will be an environment that presents a different threat point than going to a football game or some of those other things,” DeSantis said. “It has all sorts of effects in other parts of Florida where the boats go. Central Florida, South Florida, Tampa Bay, and we need to see this summary. So I worked with the White House on this. I think the president supports him. “
The “do not sail” order, issued in March, has been extended 3 times. Currently, no major cruise line sells November departures from U. S. ports.
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