COVID-19 Emergency Measures and Testing
Leading the Charge on COVID-19
When I was elected as Miami Beach Commissioner, I never imagined I would be making decisions along with our entire Commission to protect our residents from a world pandemic. Our Commission has acted boldly and taken decisive action, writing the playbook for other municipalities to follow as our great nation works together to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Drive-Through Testing on Miami Beach
For the past two weeks I have pushed hard for vital COVID-19 testing on Miami Beach for the safety of our residents. Leading medical experts around the country have explained that testing is critical in slowing down and eventually ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting this Thursday, testing will be offered at the parking lot on Collins Avenue and 46th Street by a private provider. The expectation is that most people being tested will not have any out-of-pocket expenses. Our City administration tried to get free testing from government agencies or non-profit entities but was unsuccessful. Pre-screening and an appointment are required.
As reported in ReMiamiBeach:
“Commissioner Steven Meiner has led the charge for a test site [on Miami Beach] since mid-March... Meiner raised the issue at Friday’s special Miami Beach City Commission meeting and has been pressing the point on social media ever since. He also continues to raise it with City Manager Jimmy Morales.”
“The public reaction has been extremely positive,” Meiner said.
“Meiner said he reached out to many medical professionals and experts who ‘over and over kept telling me’ that in addition to social distancing measures ‘drive-through testing is definitely a necessary element’ in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. ‘The testing is so imperative to let people know that they have it, not just for the individual but to get a data point as to where we’re at as a city and a county as to how widespread the virus is here.’”
Please click here, here, and here for ReMiamiBeach articles about Miami Beach drive-through testing<
Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the health and safety of its residents. Testing on Miami Beach for our residents does just that.
I am appreciative that Mayor Dan Gelber, our City Manager Jimmy Morales, and my fellow Commissioners were supportive of this initiative to protect the health of our residents.
State of Emergency
On March 12, 2020, the City of Miami Beach announced a State of Emergency, thereby granting the City Manager special powers to implement curfews, business shutdowns, and closures of City-owned public spaces such as beaches and parks.
On March 18, the City Commission held a special hearing to vote on the extension of the City Manager’s powers. Although the resolution passed, I was the lone no vote on extending these emergency powers because I believed we could act more swiftly, and boldly to protect our residents with daily Special Commission meetings where we would vote as a Commission on the necessary steps we needed to take to protect our health.
Since the March 18 Commission meeting I have been heartened by the proactive and decisive action taken by our City during this critical time.
Please click the link below to view my remarks during the March 18 Special Commission meeting.
Emergency Actions to Protect Our Community
The City of Miami Beach has implemented bold measures to ensure our community remains vigilant in our effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Some of these measures include:
- ”Safer at home” order
- Midnight to 5 a.m. curfew
- Suspension of trolley services
- Closure of hotels and non-essential businesses
- Closure of beaches and parks
Please text MBAlert at 888777 to receive real-time updates from the City of Miami Beach.
I'd like to hear from you if you have any concerns or suggestions on our measures taken in response to COVID-19. Please reach out to me any time - my cell phone is 786-810-8728 and my direct City email is StevenMeiner@MiamiBeachFL.gov. Alternatively, you can contact my aide Amadeus Huff at 786-697-7763 or by email at AmadeusHuff@MiamiBeachFL.gov.
Thanks,
Steve
Posted on 01 Apr 2020, 01:13 - Category: 2020
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