Broward County Imposes Countywide Curfew, Warns Violators
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Broward County Mayor Dale Holness held a press conference on Friday afternoon to announce new measures to curve the spread of COVID-19 in the county.
"We continue to see increased hospitalization rates within Broward county and the use of our ICU beds and general hospital bed diminishing," said Holness.
Watch Mayor Dale Holness' press conference announcing new restrictions:
Holness signed an emergency order which includes a curfew for all of Broward County.
The curfew will be in effect starting Friday, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The mayor said emergency personnel and delivery workers would among those exempt from the curfew.
He said violators would face fines.
"I am imploring the public to take personal responsibility," said Holness.
The order also states that gatherings will be restricted to no more than 10 people, in public or private property.
Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony said house and street parties have caused an increase in violence. He said just over the past three weeks, people have been killed in the area.
"A lot of mass gatherings, a lot of people at events and we've seen the connectivity to were at these events or after them, shootings are occurring, fights are occurring. Even homicides," said Sheriff Gregory Tony.
The Broward Sheriff's Office will be stepping up enforcement. They will especially focus on cracking down large house parties.
The curfew will remain in place through August 20th.
Click here to read the order in its entirety.
