- Title: Miami Beach mostly deserted amid surge in new COVID-19 cases
- Date: 3rd July 2020
- Summary: MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (JULY 3, 2020) (REUTERS) WIDE SHOT ORANGE FENCING BLOCKING ACCESS TO BEACH TIGHT SHOT "BEACH CLOSED" SIGN MAN RIDING BICYCLE ON BOARDWALK WIDE SHOT ORANGE FENCING BLOCKING ACCESS TO BEACH EMPTY BEACH PEOPLE RIDING BICYCLES ON STREET ACROSS FROM BEACH (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIAMI RESIDENT, RENE SIERRA, SAYING: "I think it's an excellent idea, especially for our young guys that - sometimes don't - they're not, you know, willing to, you know, go with the rules and policies that we have that's for their own good. You know, as we get older we understand we have to follow these rules, but definitely here at the beach with a young crowd it's a good idea." PEDESTRIANS WALKING IN GRASS WIDE SHOT TENT FOR MIAMI BEACH POLICE TIGHT SHOT "BEACH CLOSED" SIGN VARIOUS OF "NEWS CAFE" NEAR BEACH WIDE SHOT "BEACH CLOSED" SIGN
- Embargoed: 17th July 2020 17:08
- Keywords: July Fourth weekend Miami Beach coronavirus cases in Florida
- Location: MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
- City: MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001CL9BARR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Florida has closed bars and some beaches in a bid to contain a spike in coronavirus cases in the state.
People were blocked by orange fencing from entering Miami Beach on Friday (July 3), which would normally be packed for the July Fourth holiday weekend.
"I think it's an excellent idea, especially for our young guys," said local resident Rene Sierra, 48. "They're not willing to go with the rules and policies that we have that's for their own good."
The city of Miami Beach has also implemented a curfew from 12:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. for everyone except those deemed essential workers.
Florida shattered records on Thursday (July 2) when it reported over 10,000 new coronavirus cases, the biggest one-day increase in the state since the pandemic started, according to a Reuters tally.
Outbreaks in Texas, California, Florida and Arizona have helped the United States break records and send cases rising at rates not seen since April.
In June, Florida infections rose by 168% or over 95,000 new cases. The proportion of tests coming back positive has skyrocketed to 15% from 4% at the end of May.
Florida, with 21 million residents, has reported more new daily coronavirus cases than any European country had at the height of their outbreaks.
(Production: Liza Feria, Vanessa Johnston) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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