Miami, April 1 (RHC)-- In the U.S. state of Florida, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has warned the operators of a pair of stricken cruise ships not to seek refuge in his state. 

Four people have died on board one of the cruise ships, and dozens more have reported flu-like symptoms.  This comes as Governor DeSantis has defied calls to order all residents to remain at home, even though Florida is home to one of the nation’s largest populations of people 65 and older.

The Zaandam, and its sister ship, the Rotterdam, were allowed to sail through the Panama Canal into the Caribbean on Sunday and are now headed to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, officials said.  The Zaandam was carrying nearly 1,050 passengers and crew, and the Rotterdam almost 1,450.

As of the latest report, 76 passengers and 117 crew members on the Zaandam and Rotterdam were showing influenza-like symptoms, including eight people who have tested positive for the virus.

Speaking to reporters, Florida governor DeSantis said: “We cannot afford to have people who aren’t even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources.”