SUNDAY 2:40 P.M. UPDATE:
Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner is in talks with the county administrator on possibly closing beaches for the July 4th holiday weekend.
Broward and Miami-Dade counties have already announced their beaches will close for the Independence Day weekend.
“In light of the closure of the beaches in Broward and Miami-Dade counties for the 4th of July weekend, it is my position that to allow our beaches in PBC open during that time period would [be] highly irresponsible,” says Kerner says.
A decision will be announced as soon as possible, the mayor adds.
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ORIGINAL STORY:
Independence Day will go on without a “splash” this year in at least one South Florida county.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez signed an emergency order on Friday closing all county beaches beginning July 3.
A restriction of any gatherings and parades of more than 50 people is also part of that emergency order.
After consulting with our County’s public health experts, I will be signing an emergency order on Saturday to close all beaches in Miami-Dade County starting Friday, July 3, and ending Tuesday, July 7. More info: https://t.co/oSgkrB8CrS pic.twitter.com/CydnVmljz5
— Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) June 27, 2020
The mayor says he made the decision after speaking to the county’s public health experts.
“As we continue to see more COVID-19 positive test results among young adults and rising hospitalizations, I have decided that the only prudent thing to do to tamp down this recent uptick is to crack down on recreational activities that put our overall community at higher risk,” the mayor said in a statement.
He continued, “I have been seeing too many businesses and people ignoring these lifesaving rules. If people are not going to be responsible and protect themselves and others from this pandemic, then the government is forced to step in and restore common sense to save lives.”
The beaches in Miami-Dade will be closed through July 6.
Meanwhile, Broward Mayor Dale Holness announced Sunday morning that beaches in his county will also be closed for the holiday weekend.