The party is over in Miami Beach: in the face of hordes of revelers who have gotten out of hand, the authorities in this very touristy Florida city have declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew.
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Like every March, during spring break, thousands of people flocked to this barrier island facing Miami to party. This year, the phenomenon has been even more intense, after months of mourning and health restrictions in the country and the impression, with 13% of the population fully vaccinated that the pandemic is now under control.
“Go get vaccinated so you can come here and have fun like us,” Jalen Rob, a student from Texas, told AFP.
Every evening, the same scene: maskless youth from all over the country dance on the roofs of cars to the sounds of big speakers, often resulting in skirmishes with the police.
“There are clearly more people than in previous years,” ruled the city’s mayor, Dan Gelber, declaring a state of emergency and imposing a curfew.
At 8 p.m., all tourists must now leave the streets, while bars and restaurants are required to lower the curtain. These measures, decreed on Saturday, will remain in effect for at least 72 hours.
Sipping beers on the sand with friends despite the restrictions, John Perez did not hide his disappointment: “It really sucks,” the young Texan told AFP.
“It’s so much fun here, we have good weather, the beach. ”
The mayor of Miami Beach blames this influx of tourists on the fact that “there are very few places open elsewhere in the country, or that it is too cold there.” ”
Restaurants reopened here last May, and beaches in June. The Republican governor of the state, Ron De Santis, never ordered the compulsory wearing of the mask.