Miami-Dade Mayor, other leaders urge COVID-19 precautions as Thanksgiving approaches

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Florida – Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava held her first virtual press conference Tuesday afternoon on responding to the coronavirus pandemic since taking office.

Among those who spoke at the press conference were Chief Medical Officer Dr Peter Paige of Jackson Health System, as well as county, city, business and health leaders.

Levine Cava began the press conference by reminding residents that the guidelines for the new normal approved by former mayor Carlos Gimenez remain in effect for the time being.

She said free meals would still be provided for the elderly, as well as hotel rooms for those in need of quarantine. Residents can call 311 to inquire about meals or hotel stays.

Levine Cava and Paige also urged residents to be careful with their Thanksgiving celebrations this week.

Paige said residents should consider hosting virtual gatherings with loved ones, but if they choose to host celebrations in person, they should limit them to immediate household members or gather outside.

“The weather is so beautiful this time of year, so make the most of it,” he says.

Paige also acknowledged that many people are still expected to travel for vacation despite the pandemic, and warned that people need to be careful not only when traveling to their destination, but even after that.

“We have to keep our guard,” he said.

Paige urged people to continue wearing masks whether they are staying in South Florida or traveling elsewhere.

[Residents may visit MiamiDade.gov/newnormal for the latest on the New Normal guidelines in Miami-Dade County.]

Meanwhile, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber announced that police and code enforcement would again issue citations for those who would not wear their masks in public – even though Gov. Ron DeSantis has said that they could only collect the fines after the pandemic.

“Now is definitely not the time to give up,” Gelber said. “We need to look at these safeguards more than ever before to have a Happy Thanksgiving.”

Earlier Tuesday in Liberty City, a COVID-19 hotspot, Representative Frederica Wilson walked alongside symbolic white headstones in honor of those in our community who have died from the virus.

“We are at the center of a major health emergency,” she said.

Vaccine update

Jackson Health CEO Carlos Migoya said on Tuesday that Pfizer plans to create 40 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine nationwide.

“When you say 40 million doses, remember Pfizer takes two doses per person, one immediately and the other in 21 days, which brings it down to 20 million people,” he says.

Migoya said Florida “is likely to receive about 2 million of these doses, or per million people.” It’s a statewide number.

Priority groups like healthcare workers and the elderly will get them first, according to the state’s draft immunization plan.

Experts estimate that the general public will not have access to the vaccine until perhaps next spring.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is still awaiting approval by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has scheduled a committee hearing to consider the company’s emergency use authorization application on December 10.

Test for updates

Miami-Dade County coronavirus testing sites will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 7:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., with advice that if you have family or friends traveling to see you this week, you should get everything tested. the world in advance. But check with your local test site, as some city-run test sites will actually close for the holidays.

The event with Wilson also included the announcement of a new test site at the Jessie Trice Community Health System, in partnership with Florida International University, to serve some of Miami-Dade County’s most vulnerable communities.