Florida’s record surge in the COVID-19 case hasn’t stopped visitors from having parties at Miami Beach, which its mayor Dan Gelber calls “the epicenter of the epicenter.”

The fact that Miami is a tourist hotspot is usually a good thing, There are more than 69,000 cases in the cityAccording to USA TODAY data, it’s the most common in Florida, more than double the next Broward in the list.

Florida has recorded more than 77,000 Last week only Over 300,000 in total. Nation itself has more infectious diseases than England or Spain Tallahassee Democratic Report, Part of the USA Today network.

Still, the crowds continue to gather on the popular Ocean Drive and party boats. Event bright, According to Gerber.

Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, a Miami Beach resident and former Miami Beach committee member, told USA TODAY that the area had begun to populate with bars as he was on South Beach’s iconic Ocean Drive on Monday night.

“Ocean Drive hosts this massive party every night,” she added, adding that the party originally started as a holiday weekend tradition, but has been happening every night for years. .. “[There are] A crowd of people on the street with an open container, no one wears a mask, no one is socially separated, no police present, it shows a real danger. “

She said most participants were tourists from all over the country and talked to some from New York City and Chicago.

Owns Mitch Novak Sherbrooke All Suites HotelBehind the nightclub, they reiterated Rosen Gonzalez’s concerns about the party, which both parties have described as happening over the years.

“This is not just a risk of coronavirus infection, but a public safety issue due to simultaneous firing, sting, and sexual assault,” Novak said. “The latter case I mentioned has been going on for years.”

According to Novak, this area is called a “hotbed” for infectious diseases, as few people in the area are so close to each other or wearing masks.

The “chaos” Novak said occurs every day at different times and is brought to you by tourists. “It’s a spring break type crowd,” he said. “Teenagers, their 20s, are just doing what should not happen now in this global health crisis.”

Gerber on USA Today during the Wednesday briefing Florida Department of Health Emphasize that the parties are part of the matter.

“In terms of multiples, Miami Dade is the largest age group between 18 and 34 years old,” he said, saying he may have been infected with family members from other age groups in the area. Stated. “The group is most likely and most likely to ignore the social distance directive. [to get COVID-19] Through any party they have. “

And it’s worrisome for another reason: the proliferation of incidents is straining the county’s resources.

“Today, our county of intensive care patients has a capacity of 423 beds and currently has 438 COVID patients,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

But statistics are not enough to discourage all vacationers.

“We know that a pandemic is happening, but it doesn’t mean you don’t want to live your life,” said 36-year-old Tamia Young from Brooklyn. Reuters..

As a result of the increase in incidents, Miami-Dade County closed indoor dining and imposed a curfew at 10 pm. Put city Ban on vacation rentals, Including Airbnb, Gelber said.

“If these actions don’t reverse these upward arcs, perhaps within a few weeks, we’ll probably have to consider more thorough measures,” he said in a statement Tuesday, saying: Urged to wear a mask.

On Wednesday, Gelber told USA TODAY that shutting down Ocean Drive completely could be a problem.

Also, authorities may be able to cancel some advertised Prohibition parties and close areas of the city, but there are issues with other parties that are not easy to resolve.

“Boats are a big problem. Promoted party boats have expanded dramatically since we stopped promoting parties at the bar. Order to shut down the bar again in late June.. He said some boat parties are organized and others are more improvised.

But boating isn’t the only issue with private party outages. Gerber said it is difficult for private groups to enforce social distances.

“We can’t really stop private houses from doing stupid things,” he said, pointing out that they are trying to stop people from breaking social distance rules. “Too many people haven’t even tried to reveal…they’re not actively complying.”

The public “does not take the virus seriously”

Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis on Monday Coronavirus is widespread He urged people to take precautions such as wearing masks in public places, keeping a distance from them, and avoiding crowds.

“We need to steadily resolve and deal with the virus. We cannot be wiped out by fear, we have to understand what is going on. Must understand that there is a long way to go.

Outbreaks have spread throughout the state, but have hit particularly heavily South Florida, both now and throughout the pandemic. The three counties (Miami Dade, Broward, Palm Beach) make up only about a quarter of the state’s population, but about half of the new cases. The rise prompted all three counties Close the beach on the weekend of July 4th..

Florida International University Epidemiologist Dr. Irene Marty The situation in the region was called “very serious” and warned that the general public did not take the virus seriously enough, ignoring the guidelines promoted by DeSantis and others. ..

“They’re not following the guidelines,” Marty said in an online news conference with Carlos Jimenez Mayor of Miami-Dade County. “They are in these enclosed spaces without proper precautions, which is the main reason we are where we are.”

People are enthusiastically flocking: Florida begins resuming beach during coronavirus crisis

Contribution: Associated Press

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