Monday, March 23, 2020
Minimizing contact through social distancing measures is critical in avoiding the risk of COVID-19 infections. As such, the City of Miami Beach has issued a “Safer at Home” Emergency Order, effective 12:01 a.m. on March 24, 2020, a link to which is here , requiring all persons living in the city to remain in their homes to the maximum extent possible, except to engage in essential activities as set forth in the Order.  This is especially true for our senior population and those with compromised immune systems.  All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a residence are prohibited, except to engage in essential activities. 

All residents and visitors may engage in the following activities:
  • Essential retail and commercial activities, such as groceries; medical care; restaurants; for pick up, take out or delivery; banking; and other activities listed in the Order;
  • Outdoor recreational activities in areas not otherwise CLOSED;
  • Religious activities, subject to distance separation rules;
  • Personal support activities, to care for family members or friends;
  • Work in support of essential activities, including work to or from essential retail and commercial businesses permitted to remain open by County Emergency Order or City Emergency Order

At all times, residents and visitors shall adhere to social distancing practices, such as
  • maintaining a distance of at least six feet away from others,
  • washing hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds or using hand sanitizer,
  • covering coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands),
  • regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and
  • not shaking hands. 

Residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to limit all of their travel, except as absolutely necessary. Persons at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and people who are sick are strongly encouraged to stay in their residence to the extent possible, except as necessary to seek medical care.

As a reminder, the city is implementing a midnight curfew starting this evening and every night from midnight to 5 a.m. until further notice.

 Message from the Mayor
To help keep you informed on the latest details of this ever evolving COVID-19 pandemic , the city has created a dedicated, city-related coronavirus webpage. We encourage you to continuously visit www.miamibeachfl.gov/coronavirus f or the most up-to-date information, including a list of frequently asked questions , important resources, impacts to city services and more.

Should you have additional questions, please call our city hotline at 305.604.CITY (2489), open from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. or email your questions to MBCovid@miamibeachfl.gov .
Municipal Parking Lot and Garage Update
Now that all hotels are closing and only essential businesses, as defined in the City Manager’s Emergency Declaration, are permitted to operate, the city is lifting the current restrictions for access to certain municipal parking lots and garages effective tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24 at 12 p.m. This serves to provide added parking opportunities for patrons of essential businesses. As a reminder, Parkmobile remains as the only payment option in order to reduce touch surfaces.

Please note that certain municipal lots and garages will remain with the current access restrictions (Miami Beach residents and access card holders only) in order to discourage access to our recreational (beaches and parks) and entertainment corridors. Access restrictions are lifted at the following municipal parking lots and garages within these boundaries:

  • South Beach: West of Euclid Avenue between 5 Street and 17 Street, with the exception of all municipal lots and garages between 16 Street and 17 Street and between Drexel Avenue and Alton Road.
  • Middle Beach: All municipal parking lots west of Pine Tree Drive between 23 Street and 42 Street, including Municipal Parking Garage No. 6, located at 42 Street and Sheridan Avenue.
  • North Beach: All municipal parking lots west of Harding Avenue/Abbott Avenue between 69 Street and 87 Terrace.

Miami Beach residents are encouraged to sign up through the temporary expedited resident parking registration by clicking here .

Building Department Update
APPLICATION
 
PLAN REVIEW
  • All permits that have not been issued are required to upload all documents for review.
  • Any 24Hr plan disapproved, must upload all corrections via Citizen Self Service (CSS)
 
PERMIT ISSUANCE
  • Effective Tuesday, March 24, there will be no interior condo permits issued.
  • Any 24Hr plan brought in tomorrow will be invoiced. If approved and the remaining balance has been paid, via Citizen Self Service (CSS), the permit card will be delivered via email or be made available for download via Citizen Self Service (CSS). The inspector will bring the approved plan to the site for the first inspection.
 
INSPECTIONS
  • Any permits already issued, will be allowed to continue/begin work (if the individual association allows the work).
  • During COVID-19 period we must work together. The City of Miami Beach building inspectors will be performing checks of the logs on safe site practices. Lack of compliance with CDC recommendations on construction sites will result with the issuance of a violation and depending on the severity, may require that the site be closed down up to and including the revocation of a permit.
  • Construction projects with greater than 8 workers shall check all employees daily and keep notes of the screening on site. Click here for the City's Self Screening form.
  • Permits or violations that will expire between March 16, 2020 and April 16, 2020 will be extended for an additional month.
 
The North Beach office will be closed to the public until further notice. Customers may visit the Building Department office located at City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive. Visit the City's dedicated  COVID-19 webpage  regularly to stay informed.

Freebee Update
As of March 24, 2020, the Middle Beach on-demand Freebee service is being suspended until further notice. Resources previously allocated to this service will be used to transport seniors living in affordable housing facilities to essential stores. We thank you for your understanding and support.

Commission Meeting
The City Commission will hold a Special City Commission Meeting on Wednesday, March 25 at 10:30 a.m. to discuss relief efforts for hospitality workers. The City Commission will appear telephonically. The public may participate by calling 855.756.7520, extension 57817#

Baptist Health Offers FREE Online Urgent Care Visits
The CDC is urging patients with symptoms or concerns to stay home and use telehealth as a first line of defense. Virtual care remains a highly effective method for evaluating illness from the comfort of one’s home, while minimizing exposure to potentially contagious viruses. In order to help provide greater access to care and peace of mind,  Baptist Health is offering FREE online urgent care visits using the code CARE19  for a limited time. If you or a loved one are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms, Baptist Health has clinicians available online, nationwide 24/7, who can help assess your condition and determine the best course of action. Simply download the Care on Demand app here , sign up and see a caregiver from your phone, tablet or computer.

Parks & Rec Summer Camp Extension
The Parks and Recreation Department has extended all registration for Summer and Specialty Camp and will be conducted FULLY ONLINE . In order to ensure that you are ready to register online, registration dates will once again be changed to the following:

Summer Camp Registration
Summer Camp Registration for Miami Beach Residents – April 20, 8:30 AM
Summer Camp Registration for Non-Residents – May 18, 8:30 AM

Specialty Camp Registration
Specialty Camp Registration for Miami Beach Residents – May 4, 8:30 AM
Specialty Camp Registration for Non-Residents – May 18, 8:30 AM

Please take this time to login to your account, make sure your information and your child’s information is up to date and your financial aid information is updated, if applicable. Below you will find the most frequently asked questions about registration and this recent implementation. You can also email any questions to  cmbsummer2020@miamibeachfl.gov . We appreciate your understanding on this matter and are looking forward to a fun-filled summer.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 305.673.7730.
 
Miami Eats Program
Due to the dramatic impact on the hospitality industry during this pandemic, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) has launched MIAMI EATS - a new program to help our restaurants and their employees during this crisis. Visit  www.GMCVB.com/MiamiEats  for a list of restaurants open for takeout and delivery and if you’re a restaurant owner, learn how to have your establishment added to the list.

Essential Hotels Still Open in Miami-Dade County
Although hotels are closed on Miami Beach, there are still essential hotels open on the mainland. Visit  www.miamiandbeaches.com/miami-essential-lodging  for a full list of open properties in Miami-Dade County.

Miami Beach Trolley
Miami Beach Trolleys are operating from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Sunday with a decreased service frequency. Passengers should expect 30 minute wait times. Additionally, the 11 Street Loop is eliminated until further notice. To track the trolley in real-time, download the free Miami Beach e-Gov app.

PLEASE NOTE : Our most vulnerable groups, including seniors over 70, immune-comprised people and those with underlying illnesses should NOT take public transportation unless urgent and absolutely necessary.

Virtual Cultural Offerings
Feeling the cabin fever yet? Our cultural partners are busy coming up with creative ways to share their art and culture with you! Click here to view all there is to experience virtually in Miami Beach.

Impacted Meetings/Events
For a full list of impacted meetings and events, additional information on summer camps and more, please visit www.miamibeachfl.gov/coronavirus .
The City of Miami Beach remains committed to ensuring the safety and public health of our residents, visitors and local businesses. As the information is changing rapidly pertaining to COVID-19, the administration is conducting daily interdepartmental calls to monitor the progression of novel coronavirus COVID-19 to ensure that we stay informed and prepared to respond if needed. We are also closely following the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH). 

Below is an ongoing summary of updates from the City of Miami Beach.

Sanitary Measures
We are continuing to ensure our spaces, including city facilities and beachfront restrooms are being thoroughly cleaned. This includes the daily effort of wiping down every touch surface such as door handles, elevator push buttons, handrails and recreation equipment. Cleaning contractors are also providing additional training to staff to ensure proper cleaning techniques are utilized.

Miami Beach Trolley
In addition to standard daily cleaning practices, the City of Miami Beach and its trolley operator, Limousines of South Florida (LSF), have partnered in increasing the frequency of cleaning to help protect passengers from the spread of coronavirus.

In particular, “high touch” areas, including buttons, handholds, pull cords, and rails are being cleaned more frequently. Moreover, every Miami Beach trolley vehicle is being deep-cleaned after every other route.
  • Based on availability, trolleys may be equipped with hand sanitizing gel or wipes.
  • When there is an unsanitary condition reported, it is standard practice for LSF to take the vehicle out of service immediately for cleaning and disinfecting.

Seniors are encouraged to limit their trolley usage to adhere to the CDC's recommendations to practice social distancing.

Miami-Dade Transit Update
Miami-Dade Transit’s Metrobus system will continue to run weekday routes across Miami-Dade County with reduced frequencies.
 
The following Miami Beach routes may experience reduced frequency on weekdays:
79, 103, 110, 112, 113, 119, 120 and 150.
 
Metrobus weekend services will remain operating as published and will be monitored closely. Customers are encouraged to use contactless, online and mobile payment methods to ride transit and the County’s online services and mobile application (Go Miami-Dade Transit) to stay connected. For Miami-Dade County transit updates, please click here .

Parks & Recreational Facilities
All parks, beaches, recreation centers and programs are closed until further notice. For detailed information regarding facilities and summer camps, visit our dedicated COVID-19 webpage and view the tab pertaining to Parks & Rec: Programs and Class Updates.
 
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 305.673.7730.

Impacted City Services
For a full list of impacted city services, including the Building Department, Code Compliance and more, select the Impacted City Services tab on our COVID-19 webpage .

Emerging Reports of Scams
There have been some reports of scams happening within Miami-Dade County. Scams will probably evolve over time, but some include: people going door-to-door selling COVID-19 test kits; texts/emails/phone calls from companies offering fast test results or asking the recipient to claim their free protective mask from the Red Cross or a similar organization; text or emails that the recipient is suspected to have come in contact with the coronavirus and requests credit card information to ship medication; offers to invest in stocks related to the illness; various organizations soliciting online donations for COVID-19 related work, etc.
 
It’s important to only seek information from trusted sources such as the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Florida Department of Health. If you have been targeted by any of these scams, you should report it to the Miami Beach Police Department’s non-emergency number at 305.673.7900. If your issue is an emergency, please call 911 immediately.

Parkmobile Payments Only at Curbside Parking Spaces
To help minimize the use of touch surfaces to further prevent the transmittal of COVID-19, payment for curbside parking spaces is now being accepted through the Parkmobile app only.

The Parkmobile app is a free download on iOS and Android. It provides a simple and convenient way to pay for parking while avoiding touch surfaces and observing social distancing. For details, click here .

Business Assistance & Resources
View some helpful tools and resources for businesses expected to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including information on Governor DeSantis' Florida Small Business Emergency Loan Program, on the Business Assistance & Resource tab of our COVID-19 webpage.

Miami-Dade County Special Transportation Service (STS)
For elderly and those with special needs, the County offers an alternative mode of transportation that offers door-to-door transportation service from the main entrance of pick-up to the main entrance of drop-off locations. Please note that you MUST be eligible for these services in order to utilize them.

The service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be used throughout Miami-Dade County ONLY for those that are eligible. Visit the County's website and learn more about the eligibility requirements.

Resident Parking Rate Registration: COVID-19 Temporary Relief
We understand the challenges brought on by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused some level of inconvenience for us all. In order to alleviate some of those challenges, residents may park and will be honored in all municipal parking lots.

For more detailed information related to the Miami Beach Resident Parking Rate Program, please  click here .

Seniors and Special Needs Community
All senior centers are closed effective Monday, March 16 . Any seniors that are currently registered in a senior meals program will be served meals by their respective providers based on their specific plans. View additional information under the Senior/Special Needs Update tab on our COVID-19 webpage .

Prevention Starts With You
The CDC urges everyone to do their part to help during this emerging public health threat, this includes:
  • Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
  • Take personal responsibility. If you are sick with a fever, cough or viral symptoms, please stay away from others, including the work environment and crowded areas

If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or because you have a serious long-term health problem, it is extra important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease such as:

 
During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home  as much as possible. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, you can learn more about prevention and treatment by visiting the CDC website .

Stay Informed
For updated information on the city’s efforts, please visit: www.MiamiBeachFl.gov/coronavirus . We will also be posting updated messages via email , Nextdoor , Facebook or Twitter.
‌