Gimenez orders grocery stores to reduce crowd sizes

Grocery stores must implement crowd-control measures and slash capacity by half under a new emergency order by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who is attempting to create more space between customers as they shop for food and supplies.

The order posted on Miami-Dade’s coronavirus website Thursday afternoon follows a crackdown in Miami Beach this week. That city’s mayor, Dan Gelber, said he was aghast at how close shoppers were getting.

“There’s such substantial community spread, we have to assume that these places have customers and workers who are infected,” he said. “To protect everybody, we have to be careful.”

The Beach order was announced Tuesday, and the countywide decree goes into effect at midnight Thursday.

With grocery stores under pressure already, some locations have imposed voluntary capacity restrictions. That has meant lines outside stores, according to anecdotal reports. On Thursday, grocery stores in Miami,

Coral Gables and Miami Shores not known for lines had people waiting to enter.

The county order only applies to stores that “provide unpackaged food for consumption.” It requires those stores to monitor entrances and exits, and limit the maximum occupancy load by 50%.

Gimenez’s order also bans salad bars and selfserve food stations, but grab-and-go offerings can remain. Also banned: free tasting and samples.

Douglas Hanks: 305-376-3605, @doug_hanks

AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com Grocery shoppers gather at Trader Joe’s at 9205 South Dixie Highway in Miami on Tuesday. A new Miami-Dade order requires grocery stores to limit capacity by 50%.