Florida state authority announced that it will allow reopening bars, at 50% of the allowed capacity, starting Monday, September 14, except in Miami-Dade and Broward counties where local governments still monitor the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic.
Florida Mayor Gives Green Light to Bars, Miami-Dade and Broward Stay Out
Even though the State of #Florida is planning to allow bars to open again, @MiamiDadeCounty’s bars will remain closed by emergency order until further notice. Our County continues to monitor this evolving situation as it works to tamp down COVID-19 cases. https://t.co/X2K7n0d8V6
— Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) September 11, 2020
In fact, just three days ago Giménez anticipated that he was not planning for now reopening bars or nightclubs.
“Not yet and probably delay, as long as we don’t have a vaccine”
The mayor said.
A big difference between reopening bars or restaurants
According to specialist doctors, is different between reopening bars, restaurants, parks, nightclubs or theaters because in those places there are a greater number of people, who even interact with each other.
“It’s not a whim. These are data we collect from other cities and countries. They’re not safe places as long as we don’t have a vaccine“, added Dr. Lilian M. Abbo.
Meanwhile, desperate for the long six-month closing, bar and nightclub owners in Miami Beach are asking Giménez to reconsider the order.
“We’re holding on. Waiting to see how we knew the payment of the rent of the premises, which we did not pay since May, the late bills, of drinks and other products that we have not been able to sell, but we have to pay”
Said Miguel, owner of a famed bar on Ocean Drive, who asked not to mention the name of the business.
In fact, county governments can adopt stricter requirements, never more flexible than the state or nation, and that’s why Miami-Dade and Broward choose to keep bars closed.
“There is a strong commitment to taking care of health and avoiding contagion. We’re aware of that. But if we keep this up, completely closed, we’ll soon see hundreds of bars and clubs going bankrupt, and we’ll all lose out,” he said.
Originally, the path to so-called ‘new normality’ was established in phases. Florida allegedly entered Phase 2 on June 5, which allows the limited reopening of restaurants and other commercial premises, but the bars were ordered to close again a few days later, after a regrowth of new cases of coronavirus originating in these premises has been detected.
However, neither Miami-Dade nor Broward have yet moved to phase 2, so it is understood that certain health restrictions prevail.
Miami-Dade has accounted for more than 163,000 cases of contagion and 2,790 deaths since the pandemic began in March, while Broward has accounted for some 73,700 positives and 1,250 deaths, also since the spread of the virus began.
Both Miami-Dade and Broward denote a test rate and positives of the last 14 days below 10%, exactly 5 and 6.5 respectively, according to the county authorities.
It is worth remembering that the rate recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), to establish the so-called “new normal“, is less than 10% trending at 5% for 14 days.
