AMENDMENT 1 TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY EMERGENCY ORDER 25-20
WHEREAS, section 252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes, gives political subdivisions the authority to declare and enact a State of Local Emergency for a period of up to seven days, thereby waiving the procedures and formalities otherwise required of the political subdivision by law; and
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, the Governor of Florida issued Executive Order No. 20-51, directing the State Health Officer and Surgeon General to declare a Public Health Emergency due to the discovery of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Florida; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the Governor of Florida issued Executive Order No. 20-52, declaring a State of Emergency for the State of Florida related to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, the County Mayor declared a Local State of Emergency for all of Miami-Dade County related to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 cases in both the State of Florida and Miami-Dade County are trending upwards after a period of containment; and
WHEREAS, holiday gatherings, such as those that occurred in many places over Memorial Day, may have driven the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, individuals and families often gather in large numbers on Miami-Dade County beaches and at pools over the Fourth of July weekend, including many tourists and individuals from other places in Florida and elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, various municipalities have expressed concern over parties and gatherings in hotels over the Fourth of July holiday, which could drive the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, crowded beaches, pools, parades, and fireworks displays over the Fourth of July weekend could threaten to substantially accelerate the spread of COVID-19 in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, this amendment requires hotels, motels and commercial lodging establishments to:
- close pools between the hours of 8 p.m. each night and 6 a.m. the next morning;
- limit the use of pools to guests staying in rooms at the establishment, and overall capacity to 50 percent of the pool deck capacity;
- not permit alcohol consumption or sales on pool decks prior to 11:00 a.m.;
- Only permit guests staying at the establishment to access rooms, and to strictly observe room occupancy limits; and
WHEREAS, hotels, motels, and commercial lodging establishments which violate those requirements shall close their pool and pool deck until 12:01 a.m., July 7, 2020; and
WHEREAS, this amendment bans parades, but allows for municipal fireworks displays, but only in strict compliance with social distancing and facial covering requirements,
THEREFORE, as County Mayor of Miami-Dade County, I hereby order:
A. Emergency Order 25-20 is replaced and restated in whole as follows:
1. Commencing at 12:01 a.m., Friday, July 3, 2020 and extending through 11:59 p.m., Monday, July 6, 2020 and notwithstanding any other emergency order to the contrary:
a. All public and private beaches shall be closed in Miami-Dade County.
b. Hotels, motels, and commercial lodging establishments shall close their pools between the hours of 8 p.m. each night and 6 a.m. the next morning. During the time that pools are open:
i. only guests staying in rooms at such hotel, motel, or commercial lodging establishment may use the pool;
ii. capacity will be capped at 50 percent of the authorized capacity of the pool area, inclusive of pool and pool deck;
iii. alcohol shall be permitted for sale or consumption in pools or on pool decks only between the hours of 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. each day;
iv. the owner or authorized agent shall ensure it, its staff, and its guests comply with the requirements for pools and pool decks in the New Normal Guidebook attached to Emergency Order 23-20, as amended.
c. A hotel, motel, or commercial lodging establishment which violates any provision of (b) above shall close its pool and pool deck until 12:01 a.m., July 7, 2020.
d. Only guests staying in rooms at hotels, motels, and commercial lodging establishments shall be permitted to access rooms and room occupancy limits shall be strictly observed.
e. No parades shall be allowed.
f. Municipal fireworks shows may take place, but only in strict compliance with the social distancing and facial covering requirements of Emergency Order 10-20 and Emergency Order 21-20, as amended.
g. Subject to a. above and pursuant to Emergency Order 21-20, as amended, all parks must close by 8 p.m. each day.
2. The provisions of this order shall serve as minimum standards. Municipalities may impose more stringent standards within their jurisdictions.
3. This order shall expire upon the expiration of the existing Miami-Dade County State of Local Emergency, except that if such State of Local Emergency is extended, this order shall also be deemed to extend for the duration of such extension to the extent provided in this order. This order may be cancelled earlier by action of the County Mayor.
B. This amendment shall be effective immediately.
C. This amendment shall be provided to all appropriate media consistent with the requirements of section 8B-7(2)(n) of the Code of Miami-Dade County.