Miami Beach, Florida, decided to reclose South Pointe Park on Monday "until further notice" after thousands of people were issued face mask violations in the five days since it was reopened, the city announced on Facebook.
The Facebook post included a reminder that face masks must be worn at any of the city parks.
Last Wednesday, Miami-Dade County parks, including South Pointe, were opened to the public after being closed for more than six weeks to prevent the spread of coronavirus, with the stipulation that regulations were adhered to, the Miami Herald reported.
But with more than 5,000 violations issued over the past two days alone, the majority of them at South Pointe, city officials said there was no option other than to again close the park.
Reopening open spaces has been "successful" everywhere else in Miami Beach, but South Pointe "is the most egregious exception," City Manager Jimmy Morales said. "We have had city staff in the park to encourage people to comply, but they were met with hostility and non-compliance."
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said "The social distancing is serious, and it's too early to disregard it. There is a lot of frustration, but that can't be the organizing principle of what we do."
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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