Miami-Dade Police To Step Up Enforcement Of COVID-19 Rules Due To Surge In Cases
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced Wednesday that police would increase enforcement due to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases locally.
Mayor Gimenez said the Miami-Dade Police Department will be "shutting down businesses found to not be following the safety rules."
Gimenez urges residents to take personal responsibility by wearing masks and by practicing social distancing.
"If you are not going to take personal responsibility, we are certainly going to call you out for it because lives are at stake," said Gimenez. "Rest assured that if you are a business and you have decided it is not your problem we are going to make it your problem because our education campaign is over and businesses that are not abiding by the rules will be shut down by Miami-Dade Police. Our goal is to open up our economy and do it safely and now it is up to you and your businesses to follow the guidelines and protect others."
Gimenez added, "We have seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases in Miami-Dade County and hospitalizations. We expected that as we opened up the economy and there was more testing and protests may have contributed."
He urges residents to report those not following the rules by calling 305 4-POLICE.
"I also want everyone to realize that safer at home was never lifted," he said. He said "This applies to people over 60 if you have certain conditions like auto-immune disease or respiratory problems or diabetes. We need everyone to take responsibility and follow the rules. We are in this together."
The Miami-Dade Police Department released the following statement:
"MDPD will continue to enforce the emergency orders and all other laws while on routine patrol and taking calls for service which may include reports of violations. Officers will take into consideration all of the circumstances involved and take the appropriate actions depending on the facts they have at the time; that can be anywhere from reiteration of the emergency orders up to fines, arrest or fines and arrest.
CBS4'S Peter D'Oench went inside a number of Miami businesses where owners say they are going out of the way with measures to protect their customers.
In Wynwood, Bruce Cannella, the co-owner of the BASE men's, multi-brand clothing store said, "I think it's important to follow the tules. We have signs showing people entering that they must wear masks. All employees wear masks. We have hand sanitizer all over our business. We have signs on the floor about social distancing. And we are only using one of our dressing rooms at a time.
Nearby in Wynwood, Aviator Nation employee Margaret Suarez said, "I think what the Mayor is saying is logical. Every person who comes in here has to put on hand sanitizer. If you don't have a mask you are not entering. Every two hours we disinfect the whole store with Clorox and disinfectant spray that you see right here."
"We really want to stay open," she added. "We love our jobs."
