What to Know
- Miami's citywide curfew goes into effect Friday and will be from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Exceptions are for people going to and from work, medical emergencies and people who are walking their dogs within 250 feet of their residence
- The city has already closed all non-essential businesses, parks, beaches and recreational facilities in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19
Miami city commissioners unanimously approved a citywide curfew to supplement the shelter-in-place order for its residents amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The vote was made late Wednesday at a virtual city commissioners meeting. The curfew is from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and begins Friday. Exceptions are for people going to and from work, medical emergencies and people who are walking their dogs within 250 feet of their residence.
CORONAVIRUS LATEST
Residents in the city of Miami have been dealing with the "new normal" after officials earlier this week ordered them to "shelter in place" and to remain home until further notice. That order took effect Tuesday at 11:59 p.m.
"The more we stay at home and the more that we respect this order, the faster we're going to be able to return to normalcy and return to work, which is what we want to do," said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.
Officials said all "non-essential" travel within the city is prohibited, with the exception of traveling to grocery stores and pharmacies, to work in support of "essential activities," and to perform essential services to homes, such as repair, landscaping and pool services.
Residents may engage in outdoor activities, but not in places that have already been closed. The city has already closed all non-essential businesses, parks, beaches and recreational facilities in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.
"We have a very short period of time left to flatten that curve and not overwhelm our healthcare system. And we have to do everything we can now to make that happen. We can't afford to wait to next week or until tomorrow," commissioner Alex Diaz De La Portilla said.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has not issued a shelter-in-place order but officially banned public gatherings of more than 10 people in public areas.
Unlike other states like New York and Illinois, Florida hasn't imposed a statewide shutdown. Gov. Ron DeSantis said he doesn't want to cause unnecessary financial hardship or create unintended consequences such as people fleeing the state and spreading the disease.
Miami has been the hardest hit city in Florida, leading the state in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Read the city's full statement and shelter-in-place order here.
