Miami Beach officials have extended the city’s 8 p.m. curfew to 6 a.m. until April to combat against restless crowds. They have also declared a state of emergency. Miami beach has made over 1,000 arrests relating to spring break crowds that have plagued the city for the last 6 weeks. Crowds also ignored social distancing and mask wearing rules, destroying property and threatening the city’s public safety. Officials have made it clear that this is a crowd not made of college students, but made up of adults with an excuse to ‘let loose’ since Florida is one of few states fully opened. Over 1,000 arrests were from out of state. Police and SWAT teams tried to disperse the crowds who were out after curfew, but were ignored. Street fights resulted in stampedes and closings of businesses, injuring many.

Miami has had the highest COVID-19 case positivity in the whole country this week.

 

Image Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images