Miami's Latest Covid-19 Restrictions & Devastating Economical Impact
Miami, Florida is known for its busy international airport, lively night time scene, beautiful beaches and now being the hotspot of the coronavirus pandemic. With New York cases now falling behind Miami numbers, government officials have had to take strict precautions to slow down the spread of the disease. Here is the latest Covid-19 latest restrictions and economical impact.
Main restrictions
As of the most recent government issued newsletter on July 9th, 2020, Miami-Dade has implemented guidelines for the city members and any person who would be in the area.
Face Masks required to be worn in public at all times except when exercising, eating/drinking, or under the age 2
Social distance in practice while in public spaces
Masks must be worn when inside gyms and fitness centers
Banquet halls and bathrooms closed
Miami, Florida just like many other cities relies on its flourishing tourism to bring the area an abundance of life but the pandemic has put a halt on many local and travelers' future plans.
Restaurants
Businesses focusing on travel and tourism ( i.e., restaurants, lodging, recreation) in the area have had to cut down their usual capacity of clients or in fact, shut down as a whole.
More specific guidelines for restaurants include:
Restaurants and cafeterias limited t outdoor dining only- four-person table max
Restaurants and cafeterias to outdoor service only for on-site consumption between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. each day
10:00 p.m. each night and 6:00 a.m. the next morning only for the purpose of delivery, pick up, room service or take out
For South Beach Entertainment District (MXE):
All business establishments closed by 8 p.m. daily
All restaurants, cafeterias, and other foodservice closed by 8 p.m., only takeout, curbside pick up shall be prohibited
No music shall be permitted unless the volume doesn't exceed normal conversation
Any live entertainment not allowed
Recreational Activities
All recreation programs have been canceled. City pools, recreation centers, and field trips are not open for use. Museums are closed as of further notice. The city beach walks are open for bikes and pedestrians from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If conducting strenuous activities, face masks are not required.
Beaches
Beaches are open. No gatherings of 10 or more allowed. Facial covering required in public bathrooms & at concession stands.
Short Term Rentals & Hotels
For people who are still vacation savvy and in need of a private getaway, plan on being in Miami Beach for a month or longer. Due to the newest rules on short term vacation rentals.
Maximum of two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons per property not to exceed 10 people
New rental agreements prohibited unless a monthly basis
Hotels are allowed to operate under specific recommendations and rules that must be followed. Guests must wear face masks in all common areas inside the hotel, if outside and can not follow social distancing masks must be worn. On the basis of employees, face masks must be worn at all times.
Guests at the hotel are not allowed to bring pets unless it is a verified service animal.
Hotels are required to have certain items on the facility including hand sanitizer and signage. Elevators are at half capacity, cleaning services will remain intact with EPA approved disinfectants, and laundry will be washed at high temperatures in accordance to the CDC guidelines.
Economic Development halt
These turn in events have caused a major issue in the cities plans for economic development over the past few years. In 2016, Miami, Miami Beach, and Miami-Dade County were selected to join the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 Resilient Cities initiative. Rockefeller Foundation's plan was to incorporate resilience planning and principles allowing cities to prepare for "disasters and long-term threats, but also improves everyday living standards for all members of an urban community."
The plan consists of 59 action items that the city will focus on in order to properly reach its end goal. The main driver of Miami-Dade to join the plan was there strong economy, which was driven mostly by Miami International Airport and Port Miami. "Miami was ranked 21st healthiest market, according to ThinkWhy's LaborIQ™ Rankings Index." With the top industries in Miami being trade, transportation, and utilities.
In 2019, "growth in travel and cargo resulted in more than $32 billion in direct business revenue generated at MIA and the County's general aviation airports, with a total economic value to the region of $118 billion." Port Miami also set records last year on both the cruise and cargo side of the port. Cruise ships brought in a record of 6.8 million passengers.
These numbers prove the hundreds of thousands of jobs that were provided to locals in the area. Now, with coronavirus, cruise ships, cargo, and air travel production are at an all-time low having a massive economical impact on Miami, Florida.
The rise in the number of cases in Miami-Dade is not promising, which is why officials' main goal of implementing all these guidelines, restrictions and recommendations are just a part of the plan to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the coronavirus pandemic. The virus has proven that it has the ability to affect any human life in all different ways some more intense or in fact, deadly, which is what is trying to be avoided at all costs.