Every day it feels as though we are taking measures that previously would have been unthinkable. Today, we closed our beaches and parks, and non-essential businesses.
 
Some of you have expressed concern that we (and the County) are acting precipitously. I got a real earful from some friends who golf, and others who miss visiting their dog park. A few feel we need to go further and barricade the causeways to nonresidents.
 
I appreciate that every measure taken can seem severe, especially in a community so accustomed to congregating outside and in our beautiful venues. But every informed health care opinion counsels that the more we do now to limit interactions, the less destructive this virus will be and the faster we will emerge from its grip. You should know that all our decisions are made after a good deal of deliberation and consultation -- and very often your emails and texts are helpful and are informing our decisions. So don’t hesitate to let us know even, actually especially, if you disagree. My email is DanGelber@MiamiBeachFL.gov .
 
With every level of government making announcements I know it can be confusing. Our City’s daily alerts are intended to give you a full inventory of information and directions as to current rules so that you don’t have to guess what is closed or open, and what directions apply to us.
 
As of today, March 19, here is where we stand:
What’s Closed:
 
  • Restaurants must close for service on-premises (take-out, drive-thru, and delivery remains open until midnight each day)
  • Parks, beaches, recreational facilities, and Monument Island
  • Nail & hair salons, and tattoo parlors
  • Private health and fitness clubs
  • Public and private golf courses and tennis courts 
  • Museums, memorials, and cultural institutions
  • Public and private schools, colleges, and educational institutions
  • All bars and nightclubs
  • Movie theaters
  • Sidewalk cafes
  • All City parking garages and surface lots
  • Gymnasiums and fitness centers, unless the gym is (i) an amenity of a residential building, or (ii) an amenity of a hotel, if the hotel gym has a capacity of 10 or less
  • All non-essential retail and commercial establishments, as provided in Miami-Dade County Emergency Order 07-20
 
Curfew: A 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. curfew is in effect in the City’s Entertainment District (5 Street to 16 Street, and Ocean Drive to Washington Avenue).
 
What’s Open:
 
  • Grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores
  • Restaurants may remain open until midnight each day for take-out and delivery only, subject to social distance separation of at least 6 feet between patrons
  • Hospitals, pharmacies, and health care providers (including doctor’s offices, rehab centers, and urgent care centers),
  • Gas stations and auto-repair facilities
  • Banks
  • Hotels (however, restaurants, banquet halls, bars and nightclubs, spas, and certain gyms within hotels are closed)
  • Religious institutions and places of worship, subject to occupancy limits of no more than 10 persons, and social distance separation
  • Hardware stores
  • Contractors & other tradesman who provide maintenance and repair services, such as appliance repair, extermination, and sanitation
  • Businesses that provide postal/shipping services and other office products
  • Laundry service providers
  • Childcare facilities providing services to groups of 10 or fewer (subject to limitations in County Emergency Order 07-20)
  • Home-based care for seniors, adults, or children
  • Nursing homes and adult care centers
  • Professional services, such as legal and accounting
  • Landscaping and pool care services
  • Pet supply stores
  • Open construction sites
  • Waste management services
  • The City’s beachwalks and baywalks remain open for pedestrian use only (no bicycles, scooters, skateboarding, and similar devices, except wheelchairs for use by disabled persons)
 
Daily updates from the City are being shared via email and social media and on our website – providing the most up to date information available. Our website link is MiamiBeachFL.gov/coronavirus . 
Again, you can click here to sign up for our daily emails . You can also contact the Florida Department of Health at 1-866-779-6121.
 
If you still have any questions about any of these City-specific rules (e.g. Does a hotel restaurant qualify as a restaurant ? Yes) you can also call our City Customer Service Call Center at 305.604.CITY (2489) from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.
In the meantime we will have to just enjoy our beaches from afar, spend time at home with family, and do what we can to help those most harshly impacted by this virus.
 
A kite flies highest against the wind and we are already seeing the best in our community as people are doing what they can to help one another and to stay strong. Ordering take out to help local businesses. Reaching out to those who are alone or unable to help themselves. Not losing your cool over the disruption this all brings. And recognizing that this too will pass and soon we will get our wonderful City back. 
 
Thanks for your patience and calm. Stay healthy.

Dan