Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez plans to issue an emergency order to close the county’s beaches over the weekend of July 4.
The planned closings for July 3-7 come after Florida has seen a surge in coronavirus infections. Nearly 9,000 new cases were reported Thursday in the state, the highest number since the outbreak began, according to the state Department of Health.
Giménez warned that it can extend the closure if “conditions do not improve and people do not follow the new normal rules that require the use of masks always inside commercial establishments and outdoors when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not possible “in a statement about the order.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez plans to issue an emergency order to close the county’s beaches over the weekend of July 4. Giménez, wearing a mask, is photographed during a coronvirus press conference this week
The planned closings for July 3-7 come after Florida experienced an increase in coronavirus infections. There were nearly 9,000 new cases reported in the state on Thursday, the highest number since the outbreak began. Crowds are pictured in Miami Beach this week
Giménez tweeted that he consulted with county health officials before deciding to sign the emergency order, saying he could extend beach closings if people don’t wear masks inside companies and when they can’t practice six-foot social distancing.
This week Florida joined Texas to ban bar drinking and Arizona asked residents to stay home after states began reopening their COVID-19 locks just to see increases in infection and hospitalization rates.
Gov. Greg Abbott ran bars in Texas until noon Friday to close, while the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation told the bars to stop serving alcohol on their premises.
The abrupt announcements marked a major setback for both states less than two months after an aggressive reopening and becoming the first in the United States to lift the blockade measures.
So far, there have been more than 122,000 Florida cases of the coronavirus, which has been attributed to more than 3,300 deaths.
Across the country, there have been more than 2.4 million confirmed cases and nearly 125,000 deaths.
Florida had passed 100,000 cases of coronavirus on Monday when Miami City Mayor Francis X. Suarez blamed recently opened restaurants for the recent surge.
Governor Ron DeSantis joined Republicans who claimed the increase comes from an increase in testing.
However, the Miami Herald reports that as of June 3, new cases have had a steady upward trend since mid-May, and the influx could not be attributed solely to increased evidence.
DeSantis also blamed new cases on “overwhelmingly Hispanic workers,” due to migrant workers forced to live and work in overcrowded conditions. Farmworker associations responded to the governor, saying he has repeatedly ignored his pleas to help vulnerable demographic groups.
Many of the new cases of the virus have been detected in young people and not in elderly people who generally have an increased risk of infection.
Governor Ron DeSantis joined Republicans who claimed that an increase in coronavirus cases in Florida stemmed from an increase in COVID-19 testing. He also blamed “overwhelmingly Hispanic workers” for new cases, due to migrant workers living in overcrowded conditions.
“ As we continue to see more positive COVID-19 results among young adults and increasing hospitalizations, I have decided that the only prudent thing to do to stop this recent increase is to crack down on recreational activities that elevate our community. usually. risk, “said Giménez in his statement.
The mayor claimed that he had seen companies and people ignoring security measures against the infection.
“If people are not going to be responsible and protect themselves and others from this pandemic, then the government is forced to step in and restore common sense to save lives,” said Giménez.
His order, he said, will follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and will also ban gatherings, including parades, of more than 50 people in Miami-Dade “for any reason from July 3-7.”
He explained that “in those situations”, masks and social distancing are required and five groups of no more than 10 people will be allowed.
Your order will also affect the display of fireworks in celebration of July 4th.
‘All parks and beaches will be closed to the public in all cities and unincorporated areas of the county for public display of fireworks. Fireworks must be viewed from the house or the parked vehicle, ” she said.
Giménez cautioned that as more positive COVID-19 results emerge among ‘young adults and increasing hospitalizations,’ the only ‘prudent thing to do to stop this recent increase is to crack down on recreational activities that put our community at higher risk ‘
Miami-Dade police will continue to enforce the rules this weekend, he said. “Violators face a second degree criminal sanction of up to $ 500 and 180 days in prison”
The Strategic Urban Response to Education Guidance teams will also be visiting residents at virus hotspots and giving them test information, masks and hand sanitizer.
“After all the success we’ve had in reducing the COVID-19 curve, we can’t go back and overload our hospitals, putting our doctors and nurses at greater risk with more cases in the emergency room,” said Giménez.
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