FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Despite the daily surge in new cases of COVID-19, many have chosen to travel this Labor Day weekend and hit the streets, and beaches, of South Florida.
Even amid a pandemic, and near-record heat, people are still out having fun and enjoying the fruits of their labor.
“You can’t stay in the house, living like a hermit,” said Ashlee Harris, who is in town from Pittsburgh.
Some tourists are still taking some precautions.
“When we eat, we make sure that we’re eating outside,” said visitor Judith Kcasc.
Growing crowds have been a constant at Big City Tavern in Las Olas, but not the size typically seen for the holiday.
“I was kind of anticipating it being a little bit busier than this, but I also haven’t been down to the beach to see how that’s going,” said John Owoc, who lives on Las Olas.
The holiday weekend also came with more flashing lights and badges.
On South Beach the stronger showing of law enforcement was apparent.
Dozens of officers were reassigned to Miami Beach. Additional officers from Miami-Dade police, code compliance and park rangers all hitting the streets to help deter bad behavior.
Monday night, a Miami Beach police spokesperson told Local 10 News there were no significant incidents reported on South Beach over the holiday weekend.
That’s a very different story from the crime wave hitting the area over the past several months, most recently taking the life of a young father who was dining with his family on Ocean Drive.