Miami-Dade beaches, most parades will be closed and canceled for July 4 weekend, mayor says
Going to the beach and seeing parades for the Fourth of July won’t be an option in Miami-Dade County, as Mayor Carlos Gimenez will be signing an order to close all beaches and ban large gatherings during the holiday weekend.
On Friday night, Gimenez said in a statement that he will be signing an emergency order on Saturday that will close all Miami-Dade beaches starting July 3 and ending July 7.
The closure may be extended depending on whether conditions do not improve and people do not follow the “new normal” rules requiring the wearing of masks inside and outside if social distancing can’t be followed.
“As we continue to see more COVID-19 positive test results among young adults and rising hospitalizations, I have decided that the only prudent thing to do to tamp down this recent uptick is to crack down on recreational activities that put our overall community at higher risk,“ Gimenez said in the statement.
Gimenez said his decision was made after consulting county health experts about the state of the novel coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, the Florida Department of Health announced 8,942 new coronavirus cases. Miami-Dade also saw 1,528 new cases, the highest single-day case total since the pandemic began.
The order will also cancel any gatherings, including parades, of more than 50 people throughout the county from July 3 to July 7. Gimenez says this follows the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations of large gatherings.
Parks will also be closed in all cities and unincorporated areas for public viewing of fireworks. He says fireworks must be “viewed from one’s home or parked vehicle.”
The Miami-Dade County Police Department will continue to be out closing establishments that are not following coronavirus safety rules. Violators face a penalty of up to $500 fine and 180 days in jail.
“After all the success we have had tamping down the COVID-19 curve, we cannot turn back and overload our hospitals, putting our doctors and nurses at greater risk with more emergency room cases,” Gimenez said. “Everyone must do their part and follow the rules.”
