Miami-Dade mayor promises ‘action’ in enforcing rules on businesses,
Miami-Dade’s mayor warned of stricter enforcement of coronavirus restrictions Wednesday as workers began assembling a second 250-bed field hospital at the Youth Fair and Marlins Park completed its first day of drive-thru testing for older residents.
With an economy largely paralyzed by measures to slow the pandemic in Miami-Dade, the transit system suffered significant losses. On Wednesday, Brightline announced it was temporarily suspending its rail service between Miami and West Palm Beach — and laying off 250 workers — and Miami Beach said a shutdown of its free trolley system would begin at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The idled trains and mini buses removed one more option available to residents already facing the forced shutdown of thousands of businesses across Miami-Dade. Carlos Gimenez, the county’s mayor, said Wednesday police and code inspectors planned to step up enforcement of his emergency orders to close non-essential businesses and reduce crowding at establishments allowed to remain open.
“I’ve been hearing again and again we’re still not having 100 percent compliance. So today becomes a day of action,” Gimenez said in the latest video address that he has been using to communicate details about decrees the mayor has issued under emergency powers, including requirements for social distancing. “Six feet between people is not a suggestion. This is now the rule of law.”
In an online town hall later in the afternoon, the county’s police director said he has been pleased overall with how well businesses were adjusting to the string of emergency orders to regulate how many people can gather at their establishments.
“I’m pleasantly surprised that most businesses are complying,” said director Freddie Ramirez, a Gimenez appointee under the authority of the mayor. “They’re doing their best.”
Speaking at an online town hall with Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, Ramirez said officers have mostly been warning businesses about rule violations and haven’t charged anyone with violating emergency orders. There was no word on the results from Wednesday’s announced effort to increase enforcement of social-distancing requirements and other aspects of the mayor’s orders.
The warnings to obey coronavirus rules arrived as Florida neared its 2,000th case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. The state Department of Health reported 295 new cases Wednesday evening, bringing the total to 1,977. A death in North Florida’s Clay County brought the total known fatalities to 23 statewide.
In Miami-Dade, the day brought 91 new cases, pushing the total to 491, the most of any Florida county. Broward saw 57 new cases, for a total of 412.
Cases have increased as testing expanded across Florida. Marlins Park finished its first day offering drive-thru testing for older residents with an appointment. By 4:30 p.m., 165 cars snaked through the testing set up outside the county-owned ballpark, carrying 257 people who were tested with nasal swabs, said Juan Diasgranados, a county spokesman. Results won’t be available for days.
Tests are reserved for people 65 or older with COVID-19 symptoms, which include fever, cough and shortness of breath. People must call 305-4998767 the day before to schedule a test, and Diasgranados said the roughly 300 appointments available for Thursday were booked within two hours of the hotline opening at 9 a.m.
“If you’re still looking to come to get tested in Marlins Park, call first thing in the morning” for a Friday slot, Diasgranados said.
While the new testing site opened in Little Havana, construction crews at the Youth Fair in the Westchester area were building a second 250-bed field hospital. Ray Casas, a spokesman for the entity that runs the county fairgrounds, said work was underway on the second facility that would bring the total count to 500 by Sunday.
“And we’ve identified the location for a third if the need arises,” Casas said. A county spokeswoman was not immediately available to confirm work on the second hospital, but Miami-Dade had requested from Florida construction of up to 2,000 field hospital beds.