City of Miami Beach Update on COVID-19, 10/1

 

Thursday, October 1, 2020

The City Manager has extended the city’s State of Emergency Declaration and Emergency Measures through October 7, 2020. In order to be in compliance with Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Order (EO) 29-20, as amended, the City’s measures include the following, effective today, October 1, 2020: Playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment and volleyball courts will open citywide. Facial coverings must be worn and social/physical distancing between people from different households must be maintained. Park restrooms will reopen. Restroom use shall be limited to one person or one family at a time. Facial coverings shall not be required while actively engaging in an organized sport, playing tennis, or while swimming or otherwise in a pool, ocean, or other body of water. For purposes of this exemption, organized sport means a sport such as soccer, baseball, basketball, softball, boxing, and other recognized sport that is part of an established athletic league or part of an organized program (municipal or otherwise).   The facial covering exemption for organized sports includes training and practice sessions and matches, but prior to commencing and immediately upon concluding a training or practice session or a match, individuals must wear facial coverings. Individuals who are exercising in their personal capacity and not training as part of an organized sport (i.e., participating in a regular fitness class, using gym equipment as part of a workout, including with a personal trainer or coach, or playing a sport for leisure, excepting tennis) do not fall within the definition of "organized sport" and are not exempted from using facial coverings. Message from the Mayor View today's message from Mayor Dan Gelber below and read it in Spanish here.

CARES Act Applications Reopen Miami-Dade County and United Way of Miami-Dade have reopened the Miami-Dade Pandemic Assistance Program to provide hard-working individuals and families with emergency assistance and relief during the coronavirus pandemic. The program, funded from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), aims to help ALICE* (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) individuals and families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Relief funds can be used for basic living expenses such as food, utilities, childcare, medical expenses and rental assistance among others. Individuals and/or families who have experienced a significant loss of income due to unemployment, underemployment and/or experienced unexpected expenses as a result of COVID-19 and are residents of Miami-Dade County can apply for one-time assistance beginning today, October 1 via apply.unitedwaymiami.org/submit. The application will close automatically once the maximum number of applications is received in order to exhaust the remaining funds available. Only first-time applicants will be considered. For more information, you can visit unitedwaymiami.org/coronavirusresources.

COVID-19 & Antibody Testing *UPDATE* Antibody testing will cease being administered at the The Miami Beach Convention Center testing site by close of business on Friday, October 2. The COVID-19 active virus test and antigen tests (“rapid tests”) will continue to be offered. This antigen test is a nasal swab test with results reported to the patient within 4 hours or less. It will be offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily or until the site reaches the maximum 350 daily allotted tests.  The Miami Beach Convention Center testing facility is located on 17 Street and Convention Center Drive. The COVID-19 drive-thru and walk-up testing site is available daily, including weekends, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., except for Thursdays where the site closes at 3:30 p.m. Testing is available for ages 5 and up. Visit our 'Testing' tab to view detailed information on all testing locations, including testing at the Hard Rock Stadium and homebound testing and further details.

2020 Census Deadline EXTENDED The deadline to take the 2020 Census has been extended to Monday, October 5. We need your help! If you have already completed the census, check up on your neighbors, family and friends. Spread the word to help Miami Beach secure the maximum amount of federal funding to better our community through improved schools, affordable housing, hospitals, roadways and more.   Make sure everyone in your household counts today by visiting my2020census.gov

Let's Go Back-to-School Miami-Dade Public Schools will be reopening their doors for students beginning Monday, October 5 and we want to wish all parents and students a safe and fun school year. As our neighborhood children head back to school, we'd like to remind all drivers making their way through school zones of the following: Remain alert at all times Put your cellphone down, no texting Always obey school zone speed limit signs Drop off and pick up your children in your school's designated areas, not the middle of the street Look out for children gathered at bus stops Uniforms can be quite boring, but we know your kids are showing off their personalities with their masks. Share with us a 'maskie' as they head back to school on social media. Don't forget to tag the City on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and use the hashtag #MaskUpMiamiBeach. Low Cost Internet Atlantic Broadband is offering low cost internet to assist qualified households in providing students with access to the internet for online learning. For more information click here or call 855.594.1249. To view the flyer in Spanish, click here.

Drive-Thru Food Distribution Feeding South Florida and Commissioner David Richardson will host a drive-thru food distribution on Saturday, October 3. Saturday, October 3 9 AM - 11 AM 2100 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL The food distribution is on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. Please remain in your car and open the trunk when it's your turn in line. If you do not have a car and would like to qualify for food assistance, please call or register online. Phone: 305.604.CITY (2489) or www.miamibeachfl.gov/food

In-Person After School Program The City of Miami Beach Parks & Recreation will be opening a limited number of after school slots for the 2020-2021 school year on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrollment is for Miami Beach residents that attend a Miami Beach school. Please note the program will now begin on Monday, October 12 for all grade levels. The program will be Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for grades K-12. Residents: $631/Grades 6th - 12th: Free Registration begins on Wednesday, October 7 at 10 a.m. at register.miamibeachparks.com Please note, all registration dates and procedures may be subject to change.

Virtual Culture Artistic Director Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony announce an innovative virtual fall season for Fellows and audiences featuring leading-edge distance learning, media training, musician-led activism and entrepreneurship, livestreamed concerts, and WALLCAST® concert special events. NWS is also reimagining its Community Engagement programs for the virtual space. Community Engagement is an important part of the New World Symphony’s mission to prepare graduates of music programs for leadership roles in orchestras and ensembles around the world. This year further helps prepare Fellows to engage with local and global communities in an online environment. Music is powerful, perhaps now more than ever. Enjoy the music of the New World Symphony in a variety of ways throughout the 2020-21 Season. Packages allow you to experience the New World Symphony – at home and around South Florida – in socially distanced, innovate formats. Bring your family and friends. Connect with others. Enjoy the fulfillment of shared cultural experience. Learn more and view other cultural happenings in this week's arts and culture guide here.

Mask Up Miami Beach We urge everyone to wear a mask, continue practicing social distancing and meticulously wash hands regularly. Free masks are being provided at all Miami-Dade Public Libraries.

General City Updates

Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting A Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting will be held on Friday, October 2 at 9 a.m. virtually via Zoom here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8316265617 The meeting will be streamed live on MBTV Channel 660 on Atlantic Broadband or 99 on AT&T U-Verse. How to provide spoken public comment during the meeting: The public may provide spoken comment by dialing telephone 312.626.6799 or 888.475.4499 (toll free). The Webinar ID is 831 626 5617. Press *9 to raise a hand to be placed in queue to speak.

Design Review Board Meeting A Design Review Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 6 at 9 a.m. virtually via Zoom here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83941220808 The meeting will be streamed live on MBTV Channel 660 on Atlantic Broadband or 99 on AT&T U-Verse. How to provide spoken public comment during the meeting: The public may provide spoken comment by dialing telephone 929.205.6099 or 888.475.4499 (toll free). The Webinar ID is 839 4122 0808. Press *9 to raise a hand to be placed in queue to speak.

Seawall Ordinance Public Meeting Join the City of Miami Beach for a presentation on adapting private property seawalls to reduce flood risk. City staff will discuss a the proposed citywide seawall ordinance and collect public feedback during the presentation. Tuesday, October 6 6 PM - 7 PM   Join online: https://miamibeachfl-gov.zoom.us/j/83677237004  Or via telephone: 888.475.4499 (Toll Free), the Webinar ID: 836 7723 7004   For more information, please contact Kevin Pulido, Neighborhood Affairs Manager at 786.568.6051 or via email at KevinPulido@miamibeachfl.gov

Want to Go Solar? At home watching your electric bills go up? We have great news! The City of Miami Beach has teamed up with Solar United Neighbors to bring you the Miami-Dade Solar Co-op. By joining, you’ll learn how solar works and what it takes to go solar. Then, you’ll have the opportunity to go solar at the group rate, alongside your neighbors. Join their information sessions online: Monday, October 5 at 7:30 PM Tuesday, October 6 at 6 PM Register online at SolarUnitedNeighbors.org/Miami/Events The co-op is free to join, learn more and sign up at SolarUnitedNeighbors.org/Miami

Haulover Park Notice of Temporary Closure for Repairs: Skate Park & Pump Track Haulover Park Skate Park & Pump Track will be temporary closed for a painting project beginning, October 5 and completed by October 11. This project is a collaboration with the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Concussion Program who have an interest in reducing traumatic brain injuries caused by sports activities. They are working with an artist to incorporate safety messaging throughout the pump track and skate park, in a cool, fun way and that will remind parents and kids about the importance of using protective equipment. Spearheading this project is Dr. Gillian Hotz.

Get Moving with Parks & Rec Our recreation leaders have put together free virtual classes you can take at any time from anywhere. From tai chi to yoga and basketball drills, get a great workout in! To view all classes being offered, click here: Yoga Tai Chi Basketball Drills Dance Fusion Chair Aerobics Football Drills No matter your fitness level, you can follow along at your own pace.

Plasma Donation As the number of COVID-19 infections rise in Florida, hospitals are facing critical shortages of convalescent plasma for treatment. The University of Miami Health System is working with OneBlood to collect convalescent plasma to use for a potential treatment option for patients with COVID-19. Who can participate in this study? A donor must be over 18 years old, have confirmed COVID-19 documents by a laboratory test, or history suggestive of resolved COVID-19 like illness. Participants must also have complete resolution of symptoms at least 28 days before donation and not participated in any COVID vaccine trials for at least the past 12 months. For more information on the donation process, contact Tom Tanner at 305.243.5621 or via email at