Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Non-essential businesses to close
New virus rules aim to keep folks closer to home
South Floridians will have to say “see you later” to the things they love most about the state: Sprawling beaches, stellar dining and scooting along the coast to the city that offers their favorite of both. It’s necessary to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus in South Florida, officials say.
“Non-essential businesses” in Broward and Palm Beach counties must close to slow the spread of the new coronavirus in
South Florida, the “epicenter” of the state’s outbreak, Gov. Ron DeSantis said
Thursday.
Speaking at the site of a drive-thru testing center scheduled to open Friday morning, the governor said the rest of South Florida needs to follow MiamiDade’s example to slow the spread of the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“Dade has already done it. It will apply in Broward and Palm Beach. And if you look at the cases in Florida, it’s a clear majority of cases are in those three counties,” DeSantis said. “We have many counties that still don’t have a single case and even some large counties that are still in single digits. That may change as the testing expands but nevertheless, I think Southeast Florida is the epicenter of what we’re fighting in Florida and so we want to work constructively with the local folks.”
Up until now, efforts to close down businesses have been limited only to certain cities or areas. You might not be able to go to the beach in Miami or eat out at your favorite restaurants in some cities, but nothing’s stopping you from driving to a nearby city or county with different rules.
The goal is to coordinate the efforts so people are less likely to travel between counties for different services, such as visiting beaches, restaurants, movie theaters or gyms, said Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner. The governor’s order would cover all of those and more, and it would apply to all kinds of businesses in each county so it’s uniform.
Miami-Dade’s order took effect at 9 p.m. Thursday, and while the shutdown order sounds ominous, many businesses fall under the definition of “essential” and can remain open, including grocery stores, banks, medical offices, hardware stores, laundromats and pet supply stores, among others.
Exterminators, appliance and air-conditioning repair workers and auto mechanics can also continue working.
Barbershops, tattoo parlors, nail and hair salons, jewelry stores and other retailers likely would be forced to close, but DeSantis said he would be working with county officials to craft the specifics on Friday.
In Broward, elected officials were on board but concerned about how long the order will last and how much it will affect the local economy.
The idea, said Mayor Dale V.C. Holness, is to have “uniformity between the three counties.” Holness said details still need to be worked out. “We know it’s going to entail beaches and probably nonessential businesses. But as to the details, we’re going to have to wait till [Friday}.”
Vice Mayor Steven Geller said the possible order “may be necessary but devastating.”
“If this was only going to go on two to three weeks, everyone needs to bite the bullet and do it. What if this is six or eight weeks?” he said. “There are no good options. We have to determine which are the least bad options.”
Palm Beach County officials have been working out the details for the new measures with the state and the neighboring counties on an ongoing basis, Kerner said.
“My goal is to strike the proper balance between the economy and public safety, erring on the side of public safety,” Kerner said. “We’re examining it as a regional issue, working hand-in-hand with the governor’s office and county leaders to make sure the executive order issued is appropriate and properly-tailored.”
Commissioner Mack Bernard, who previously served as the county’s mayor, said the measures are necessary to protect the health and safety of Palm Beach County’s 1.5 million residents as well as visitors who are here for spring break. Many of the beaches in that county are open, while popular beaches in Broward and Miami-Dade have closed.
“We know this is a big weekend that’s coming up, plus with so many spring breakers here, we’re monitoring to make sure some of the people at the beaches are observing the distance requirement,” Bernard said. “Because of it being a big weekend coming up, we believe it is best to try to protect residents in the county and people who may potentially come to the county.”
Nearly half of the state’s 432 cases are in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. That includes a 6-year-old child from Boca Raton, the youngest confirmed case in Florida. Nine people have died from the disease.
South Florida remains the center of the outbreak. Broward County has 96 cases, Miami-Dade County has 101 cases and Palm Beach County has 29. Those numbers are expected to climb, as the virus can double the number of people it strikes in just two to four days.
DeSantis’ announcement came at a news conference describing Friday’s planned opening of a drive-thru coronavirus testing site at C.B. Smith Park, 900 North Flamingo Road in Pembroke Pines. It is one of three drive-thru coronavirus testing sites that have opened or are set to open this week in Broward County.
At C.B. Smith, the service is limited to those who’ve had contact with an infected person or are exhibiting symptoms of the disease and are first responders, health care workers or seniors over the age of 65. Everyone who is screened will be required to bring ID, the governor said.
Sheriff Gregory Tony said he does not expect the site to be overwhelmed with people who don’t meet the criteria but are eager to be tested, but the Florida National Guard is directing the entrance to the testing location.