More Miami-Dade closures, screenings on 'fluid' Day 1 of COVID-19 isolation

Day 1 of our local government’s reaction to the new normal with coronavirus COVID-19 was, in a word, fluid, as the city of Miami shut down all restaurants and bars, allowing only take-out, curbside and delivery options until further notice.

The option had been kicked around for hours between city officials and announced to the Miami Herald by the still isolated and COVID-19 carrying Mayor Francis Suarez Monday night.

City employees and visitors who went to work were greeted at city buildings by a staff screening them for coronavirus. At Miami River Center, they had a little tent set up outside. Not only asking the five deadly questions — Do you have a fever? Dry cough? Trouble breathing? Have you traveled or had contact with someone who has? And, last but not least, have you been exposed to anyone who has tested positive or presumptive positive for COVID-19 — but also taking temperatures with little handheld lasers pointed at people’s foreheads like in the movies.

If you say no to everything and aren’t too warm, you are allowed into the building with a colored wristband that will change colors every day. “Visitors who are screened and present with any signs or symptoms stated on the CDC’s COVID-19 flyer will be denied entry and directed to contact the Department of Health immediately,” says the city’s website, where they are posting updates. People were also provided with a list of key phone and e-mail contacts for city services.

New City Manager Art Noriega, who is really getting a trial by fire here, didn’t answer phone calls Sunday or Monday.

“I’m in the middle of addressing a dozen or so problems. I’m buried right now,” Noriega texted about 6 p.m. “Bouncing from call to call. Text me what you want to know and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”

By after 11 p.m., Noriega had not answered any texted questions. Ladra understands, there are more important things going on than knowing how many city employees worked from home, how the city would enforce the shut down and/or if the city made any official request to the state or the federal government for aid. On Sunday, Commissioner Manolo Reyes wrote to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez to ask for the drive-through testing the Guard is overseeing in Broward be done here, as well as door to door screening for the most elderly of our citizens.

He also urges them to ask the federal government to establish some kind of workforce unemployment program as he expects many residents to lose their jobs and/or lose wages. His letter is posted at the end of this story.

The county was dealing with too many things to focus on the impact right away.

“It’s all very fluid right now so it will be difficult to know yet how many workers are telecommuting,” said Miami-Dade Communications Director Myriam Marquez. “When we get a moment to come up for air we will send you the memos that Mayor has sent to employees encouraging those who can work from home to do so.”

Meow.

Ladra had asked if there were going to be any layoffs or furloughs and Marquez said Mayor Carlos Gimenez “is committed to avoiding layoffs and furloughs. There are none planned at this time.

“As in any emergency, county employees can be assigned to other areas to help in that area. Don’t know yet what those assignments will be,” she said.

At least all of District 5 staff worked from home Monday, according to an email from Commissioner Eileen Higgins:

“For the safety of residents and staff, I have closed all three District 5 office locations (Coral Way, Miami Beach, and Government Center), and we will not be receiving visitors until further notice. Due to the office closures, we will not be accepting Mom & Pop applications in person this week as scheduled.

District 5 staff is working remotely to continue to serve the needs of residents and the district; their contact information is available here. Previously scheduled and future meetings will be held remotely via conference call or zoom, as appropriate.

I remain in daily communication with the County administration and municipal governments to ensure the safety of our residents, as well as to identify and find solutions to assist low-wage workers and small businesses during this economic crisis. My staff also remains in communication with senior centers, neighborhood associations, and community organizations to address any concerns.

At this time, safety is a priority. I encourage you to limit your social interactions and stay home if possible.”

The Miami-Dade Police Department has suspended all evictions on both residential and commercial properties countywide until further notice. The county’s Water & Sewer Department (WASD) and Florida Power and Light have both agreed to suspend disconnections for non-payment until further notice and through the end of March, respectively.

Miami-Dade Commission Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson had cancelled all of this week’s government meetings on Sunday.

Miami is also partnering with the Miami-Dade County Community Action & Human Services Department to provide home delivery of meals to local seniors who normally gather for large, communal meals at the local comedores. “The City suspended those communal lunches last week — shifting to pick-up service only — to increase social distancing and reduce close personal interactions among local seniors, who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19,” the latest update says.

They should partner with the Miami-Dade Public Schools system, which is also opening their kitchens while schools are closed to provide free breakfast and lunch in to-go packages for students who are low-income and get little nutrition elsewhere. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Just take some food and some bodies and everyone can pitch in.

Doral also cancelled its council meeting for Wednesday and closed all community centers at Doral Legacy Park, Morgan Levy Park and Doral Glades Park, where the nature center is also closed. All programs, sports practices and games are postponed until further notice and the Spring Break camps have been cancelled. Park rentals for birthday parties and the like are also postponed until further notice and no new rental requests will be considered.

The cities of Opa-locka and North Miami have canceled its March meetings.

But in Miami Beach, the city will press on with a commission meeting Wednesday that will be behind closed doors. Sort of.

While the meeting will be, as always, televised on MBTV and streamed live on Facebook and the city’s website, there will be no “Staney Sutnick hour” of public comments or public hearings and commission chambers will be closed to the public.

Wait, what?

The only items on the agenda will be extending the city manager’s emergency powers — which might not be a good thing in light of the weekend’s police incidents — and approving the consent agenda with items that are not separated, which is never a good thing because that’s how they sneak funny stuff through.

Hopefully, the city leaders there will think better of it by tomorrow and cancel the meeting altogether. There is nothing that can be that important now. Working with the state and the county, it’s possible that Jimmy Morales has all the emergency power he needs. Because what we need now is consistency. This social distancing and self isolation will only work if everyone does it.

Oh, but wait. Start after voting on Tuesday. Not even a super contagious, deadly novel virus can stop a U.S. presidential election.

Miami-Dade polling locations will be open, as usual, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for anyone who wants to vote in either the Democratic or Republican presidential primaries — which was already not a lot of people before the virus. President Donald Trump is a given and the battle between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders is sad and disheartening. Will folks brave a deadly virus for that? Ladra predicts the lowest turnout ever. Don’t you wish you voted absentee now?

The Democrat mailbox in this Kendall neighborhood got at least two mailers pushing Biden and casting Sanders as a radical socialist in a community that pretty much kissed him goodbye after his stupid good Castro comments. The graphics on this one are really nice. It’s a keeper.

As always, there is a silver lining: Those of you who have to vote because you’re just incapable of sitting one out should find no lines. But be sure you’re precinct hasn’t change locations. Eight polling places at senior living facilities have been relocated and you can see a full list list here.

Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and poll workers will be armed with gloves, wipes and disinfectant spray (so they’re the ones who have it!).

But you should bring your own supply, por si las moscas.