MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Miami Beach, a mecca that draws tourists, is already feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, from the closures of local businesses and beaches to curfews designed to keep the community safe.
On Friday, the city of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County took even larger emergency measures by closing all commercial lodging establishments.
This means hotels, suite hotels, hotel units within apartment-hotels, hostels, dormitories, motels, and temporary vacation/short term rentals are ordered to shut down operations and tell guests they must leave.
But right now, as painful as it may be, the reality is we just cannot be a tourist destination,” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber in a statement.
Miami Beach mayor declares state of emergency to deal with COVID-19 threatGelber apologized to the operators and employees of the properties.