Miami-Dade orders 10-person limit on all public gatherings except on transit
Miami-Dade County residents are being urged not to gather in groups of 10 or more in public spaces, including sidewalks, streets, government buildings and alleyways.
County Mayor Carlos Gimenez issued an order Tuesday limiting the number of people who gather in public to 10 in an effort to further push residents to practice social distancing and curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Tuesday’s order, which took effect at 12:10 p.m., marks another escalation in the local government’s efforts to stop people from congregating, urge social distancing and prevent more infections.
The order makes an exception for people on public transit vehicles, those waiting at a bus stop, Metromover stop or Metrorail stop, and those traveling in larger vehicles that can fit more than 10. There are also exceptions for government employees and contractors working for the government who are providing services on public streets, alleys and sidewalks.
The order does not apply to any roadways inside PortMiami or any airport. In a county news release, officials cautioned businesses that are still allowed to operate that they must ensure people are keeping six feet away from each other, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or risk closure.
“Any commercial or retail establishment which is unable to consistently observe the CDC social distancing guidelines shall be subject to closure by way of subsequent order,” the statement reads.
Under county law, those who violate the emergency order could receive up to a $500 fine, a maximum of 180 days in jail, or both.
South Florida is the epicenter of Florida’s COVID-19 outbreak. There are more than 330 confirmed cases in Miami-Dade, as of Tuesday morning. Combined with the total in Broward County, the two counties have nearly half of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Florida.
In recent weeks, local political leaders have gradually ordered cancellation of events and the closing of beaches, businesses and parks. Under emergency orders, Gimenez and elected officials in individual Miami-Dade cities have issued increasingly restrictive directives meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Such prohibitions have not been ordered statewide, reflecting a strategy where Gov. Ron DeSantis has largely left county and city governments to make their own decisions on closing bars, business and beaches. Governors in other states have acted more aggressively, while DeSantis has resisted calls for similar actions outside of South Florida.
Read the full order below:
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 3:28 PM.
