Miami Beach hotel pauses food service amid Covid-19 fears after crowds invade the city

“In recent times, we have become increasingly concerned with the safety of our dedicated employees and valued customers and the city’s ability to maintain a safe environment in the area,” the hotel said in a post on its website. on social media.

“That’s why we made the tough decision to temporarily close the food and beverage outlets” until at least March 24, hotel management said in its message.

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said earlier this week that too many people visit the city.

“We have too many people who just want to let go in a way that is unacceptable,” Gelber told Jim Scuitto on CNN Newsroom Tuesday.

While cases of Covid-19 have been on the decline of late, health experts are concerned that the country could be on the brink of another wave as a variant spreads that is more transmissible than the original virus – and it may be deadlier.

Miami Police increased the workforce on Feb. 3 “to cover the Super Bowl weekend, the President’s Day weekend, and then we rolled right over to Spring Break personnel,” said Ernesto Rodriguez, spokesman for the Miami Beach Police Department. (MBPD), this week in a summary.

As of Feb. 3, agents have made more than 900 arrests in the city, “of which more than 300 for crimes,” the summary said. “At least 50% of those arrested live outside of Florida.”

Rodriguez told CNN on Saturday that “at least two dozen arrests” had been made on Thursday and at least a dozen on Friday.

Miami-Dade police have been assisting MBPD since Tuesday because of the crowds, Rodriguez said.

Florida Highway Patrol agents also assisted with traffic control on the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle Causeways, bridges connecting the island city to the mainland, MBPD said in a tweet Friday.

According to Rodriguez, other agencies that help with security efforts include the Coral Gables Police Department and the Miami Dade Department of Corrections.

De Clevelander said management “will re-evaluate the situation in the coming days and decide whether to reopen or remain temporarily closed.”

Employees are paid “their full salary” while the dining and bar areas are closed, the hotel said.

CNN’s Theresa Waldrop contributed to this report.

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