New: The CDC is now recommending calling off any gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks, in addition to conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. More here.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez called for all bars and restaurants to close by 11pm and for all bars, clubs, restaurants and movie theaters to cut their capacity by 50 percent.
In an address, Gimenez said restaurant kitchens can stay open later to prepare meals for delivery. He asked restaurants to consider using waitstaff as delivery drivers. Faced with limited customers, some South Florida restaurants have announced they are closing indefinitely; others have limited hours or are only doing delivery and takeout.
In Coconut Grove, the Business Improvement District is working on converting the FreeBees into delivery vehicles for take-out from Grove restaurants. "We are working with FreeBee to work out the operating kinks, but should have the take-out system up and running in the next couple of days," says Grove BID executive director Abigael Mahony.
Senior community centers will close Monday afternoon, Gimenez says, so seniors will be supplied with enough meals to get them through the week. Starting next week, county workers will deliver meals to seniors' homes until further notice.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools will close all school sites for the week of March 16, beginning Monday, and spring break, the following week, will continue as planned. But the schools will be open to provide breakfast and lunch next week.
"The District is aware that food insecurity is a serious concern in our community. M-DCPS provides free breakfast for all students and free or reduced-price lunch to more than 73% of students," the district noted in a news release. "With the support of local community partners, M-DCPS is fully prepared to implement a community feeding plan to provide meals for students and families." All schools will be providing hot grab-and-go meals for both breakfast and lunch between 9am and 12:30pm Monday through Friday of next week.
Schools in Broward County will also be closed next week, according to superintendent Robert Runcie. Monroe County schools will also be closed for two weeks beginning on Monday, Mar. 16.
Some grocery store chains are changing their hours in order to restock and clean.
Milam's Markets will be open 9am-9pm.
Publix Supermarkets will close at 8pm effective Sat., Mar. 14.
The Wharf Miami is closed until further notice.
Politan Row Miami (formerly St. Roch, Design District) is open, but hours are limited.
Time Out Miami is closed until further notice.
Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Gimenez has announced the following cancellations and postponements:
Miami Youth Fair
Miami Open
AA Arena major events
Miami 5K race
NASCAR Homestead race Mar. 22
Gimenez also recommends people reconsider smaller gatherings. More here.
BEE-Cause at Tropical Audubon Society slated for Mar. 21 is cancelled.
Coral Gables Garden Club Home Tour slated for April 4 has been canceled. Details here.
Deering Seafood on the Bay has been postponed. Info on tickets here.
Jazz in the Gardens, Miami Gardens
O, Miami Poetry Festival (April)
Organizers have decided to cancel all public events for O, Miami 2020. They’re also canceling or postponing certain projects that may increase exposure risks to artists and other participants due to travel or other complicating factors. "O, Miami is nothing without the people who contribute their time, talents, and passion to the festival. Their well-being is at the heart of our mission as an organization," says managing director Melody Santiago Cummings.
The City of Hollywood has announced a number of cancellations:
St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival in Downtown Hollywood on Sunday is canceled
Food Trucks at Arts Park on Monday nights is canceled
The 2nd Annual Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival, originally scheduled for presented by Visit Lauderdale, has been postponed until Aug. 5-9.
Calle Ocho Festival – Mar. 15 Canceled but some other events are taking place as scheduled, including the Domino Tournament at Domino Park in Little Havana through Mar 11.
Doral Food and Wine 2020 Festival – Mar. 21-22 Postponed
If you’ve already bought tickets, you’ll be contacted by their team. Visit their website for word of new dates.
Town of Surfside: Senior Brunch Bunch (Mar. 13) and Third Thursdays Block Party (Mar. 19) are canceled
Homestead Main Street Carnival Parade and Flavors of the Caribbean Festival (Mar. 14) postponed
Jewish Museum of Florida FIU in South Beach is closed until further notice
HistoryMiami Museum will be closed to the public effective March 13.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is closed until further notice.
Bonnet House Museum and Gardens in Fort Lauderdale is closed until further notice.
PAMM and Frost Science Museum are closed until further notice.
State of Florida
Updates on COVID-19 cases in Florida here. The toll-free hotline for questions is 1-866-779-6121.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC is offering guidance for large public gatherings here.
Farmers Market Coalition
This national organization has prepared tips for farmers market organizers in the wake of COVID-19 as markets deal with their role as public gatherings that are essential to food access for consumers and the livelihoods of farmers. Tips include:
• Following CDC rules for washing hands and not touching faces
• Adding additional hand washing facilities for vendors and customers
• Reminding vendors of sanitary methods for handling money, food and sampling
Find out more here.
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