Source: Getty Images
After weeks of being shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic, Miami Beach is ready to start welcoming tourists back to its famous beaches and restaurants.
With hotels being the lifeblood of the city’s economy, Miami Beach is eager to start attracting visitors and their money back once more, but there will be new COVID-19 policies in place including the use of face masks.
According to the Associated Press, Miami Beach city commissioners agreed last Friday to begin reopening hotels and beaches on June 1.
“The City of Miami Beach is preparing to safely welcome back residents and visitors to a myriad of locales that had previously closed their doors in our collective effort to contain the spread of COVID-19,” the City of Miami Beach announced on their government website. “Now, as we restart our phased reopening of museums, office space, personal services, retail, restaurants, residential building amenities, gyms and hotels — we welcome you back!”
According to the Miami Herald, new rules for the reopening will include the mandatory use of face masks when entering a Miami-Dade County beach.
“Facial coverings must be worn when social distancing of six feet cannot be achieved, except for members of the same household and except when in the water,” the Miami Herald reports preliminary guidelines as stating.
Groups of more than 10 people will be prohibited and common areas such as picnic tables and playgrounds will remain closed, according to the preliminary draft shared by the commission.
The Florida Keys also announced they will reopen to visitors on June 1.