The mayor of Miami, FL, mandated the wearing of masks this week in all public areas. The mandate comes in response to a rising number of Covid19 cases in the Sunshine State.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez said this is all part of the “new normal” in the state now.
“I want to once again reiterate that if everyone follows the New Normal rules of social distancing of at least six feet, wear [sic] facial coverings (which can be homemade) and stay safer at home unless they need to go to work or to a store, we can get back to opening up our economy,” Gimenez said in a statement.
Masks must be worn by individuals at all times when in public. Exceptions are made for those exercising, people with certain medical conditions and children under the age of twelve.
Neighboring Broward County also issued a mandate for masks to be worn in all public spaces “where social distancing cannot be met.”
The orders come amid vast cancellations of Fourth of July festivities in the area as well as new restrictions on businesses.
Restaurants that seat more than eight people will be closed from 12:01am to 6am nightly indefinitely. In Broward, restaurants will close at the same time but will be permitted to open at 5am. Delivery and drive-thru’s will remain open in Broward as well.
Beaches in both counties have been ordered close for the Fourth of July, traditionally one of the biggest weekends of the year for beaches. And Gimenez threatened further closures if the orders were not followed.
“If people continue to flaunt the rules, we will be forced to close non-essential businesses and all other activities that we began opening up in May,” Gimenez said.