The Miami Beach hotel stops food service amid fears of Covid-19 after crowds flock to the city

“Recently, we are becoming increasingly concerned about the safety of dedicated employees and valued customers and the ability of the city to maintain a safe environment in the area,” the hotel said in a message on its website and on social media. .

“Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close the food and beverage operations” until at least March 24, the hotel management said in its message.

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

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

While the cases of Covid-19 have been declining recently, health experts are worried that the country may be on the verge of a new boom because a variant that is more transmissible than the original virus is spreading – and perhaps more deadly.

Miami police pushed staff on Feb. 3 “to cover Super Bowl weekend, President’s Day weekend, and then we immediately rolled in Spring Break staff,” Miami Beach Police Department spokesman Ernesto Rodriguez said. (MBPD), said in a summary this week.

Since February 3, officers have made more than 900 arrests in the city, of which more than 300 were for crimes, the summary reads. “At least 50% off those arrested live outside Florida.”

Rodriguez told CNN on Saturday that “at least two dozen arrests” were made on Thursday, and “Friday” at least a dozen. ‘

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

Florida road officials also helped 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 agencies, Coral Gables Police Department and the Miami Dade Department of Corrections, according to Rodriguez, include other agencies that help with security efforts.

The Clevelander said management “will re-evaluate the situation over the coming days and decide whether they want to reopen or stay temporarily closed.”

Employees will ‘pay 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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