Broward tightens restrictions on restaurants
Ends on-site dining after midnight, changes mask rules
Restaurants in Broward must now shut down for onsite dining from midnight until 5 a.m., starting Thursday.
No alcohol can be sold during that time, either, according to an emergency order signed by the acting county administrator late Wednesday afternoon to combat the rise in new coronavirus cases. Restaurants can continue to operate for take-out, drivethrough and delivery services.
The move follows recently increased restrictions in both Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.
“What we’ve come to find out is restaurants late into the night are having parties because bars and pubs are not open,” said Broward Mayor Dale Holness late Wednesday. “We know from the data and science that when you are in an enclosed space and you do not have facial coverings, it’s likely for coronavirus to spread.
“If we have these restaurants not operating at 50% capacity and not social distancing and having parties, you are more likely to have the spread of COVID-19, and it’s demonstrated in the numbers we see that it’s spreading in much younger people.”
Restaurants have been allowed to operate at half-capacity since May.
In addition, Broward County on Wednesday expanded its mask requirements to include wearing them in all outside spaces when social distancing by 6 feet is not possible.
Palm Beach County already ordered people who are outside to wear masks when it passed its mask mandate last week, but until now, Broward only required people indoors, and all food workers, to wear masks.
The new rules require anyone outside their home to wear a mask if they can’t separate from other people outside their family. People still have to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth in indoor public spaces, as do all food workers.
There are exceptions to the rule, such as no facial coverings are required while eating and drinking, or receiving facial grooming services, or exercising. Children under age 2 are exempt.
Miami-Dade County took similar action this week as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to spike across Florida. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said late Tuesday said that all Miami-Dade County restaurants that seat more than eight people must close their on-site dining areas from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. daily until further notice.
Restaurants and other food-service businesses can continue to prepare food in their kitchens to provide pick-up and delivery service.
Miami-Dade will also impose a stronger mask mandate for the outdoors to match Broward, The Miami Herald reported Wednesday. “I have made the decision to now require facial coverings countywide in an effort to help our hospitals operate with sufficient staffing to care for all patients,” Gimenez said in a statement. He did not say when the new rules would go into effect.
On Wednesday, Miami Beach re-imposed a COVID curfew, ordering people off the streets after 12:30 am. Alcohol sales at stores must end at 8 p.m.
Already South Florida has shut down its beaches from the Keys to the Palm Beaches for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.