An increase in positive COVID19 cases and hospitalizations in Miami-Dade has caused some concern and Mayor Carlos Gimenez — blaming the police abuse protests in the wake of the George Floyd murder because he has to deflect his own 
responsibility — has issued a warning for businesses: Follow the “new normal” safety rules or police will shut you down.
He also announced increased enforcement to ensure that businesses adhere to specifications about the use of face masks and social distancing, among other new safety measures meant to contain the spread of coronavirus.
“We expected to see an increase as we started to pen up the economy and we have more testing going on, however we weren’t counting on protests the past few weeks which likely have contributed somewhat to the uptick in positives,” Gimenez says in a video message recorded Wednesday, adding that most of the new positives were younger and asymptomatic.
Read related: ‘Stay home, save lives’ is so yesterday, says Carlos Gimenez, opening parks
“But I worry about their parents and grandparents because they are the most susceptible to getting ill from the virus,” the mayor said, warning people not to let our guard down and asking us to be chivatos against rule breakers.
“It’s up to you, our residents, to make this a safe transition,” Gimenez said. “If you’re not going to take personal responsibility we are certainly going to call you out for it because lives are at stake here.”
The Florida Department of Health COVID19 dashboard shows that we’ve had the most reported daily cases in the past 
week than we have in the last month, including more than 1,000 just on Monday and Tuesday. Last Friday saw 571 cases reported in one day.
“Our goal is to open up our economy and to do so safely…to make this transition a successful one. Now its up to you to follow the rules. If you see a person or business that’s not following the rules, call 305-4-POLICE to report it so that we can follow up.”
He said Miami-Dade Police spent more than a month checking on thousands of businesses to ensure they were following rules for required masks and social distancing. “And there’s been very good compliance,” Gimenez said.
“However, we see some people get a little too comfortable about not wearing masks when they go to stores and restaurants and not following social distancing rules. We expect businesses to monitor those situations and not let that happen,” he says in the video that last almost three minutes. “Rest assured, if you’re a business owner and you decide that it’s not your problem, we’re going to make it your problem, because our education campaign is over.”
Read related: Miami-Dade’s Esteban Bovo: ‘Close streets for post-COVID19 reopening’
“Businesses that are not abiding by the rules will be shut down.”
Wanna bet?
Remember Flanigan’s on St. Patrick’s Day? The Kendall eatery was packed late into the holiday, in violation of the 
county’s curfew and rules to have only 50% capacity.
Did they get disciplined? No. Word is that Jim Flanigan, CEO of the family-owned chain, got a spot on the mayor’s COVID19 ad-hoc advisory group. And, word is, that’s why Miami-Dade skipped the Phase I reopening capacity of 25% capacity for restaurants, like the rest of the state was forced to do. Even though you can’t have more than 10 kids per group in summer camp, Gimenez let Miami-Dade restaurants go from zero to Phase II, with a 50% capacity cap from the get-go. Huh?
Ladra doesn’t know where Gimenez is going to take from the budget to pay for the beefed up patrols by police officers-turned-babysitters who are now going to have make sure businesses are following the social distancing rules. Or is he going to take them off other duties?
“We need everybody to take personal responsibility and follow the rules,” Gimenez said.
Maybe the mayor should take personal responsibility for his part in this increase in COVID-19 cases.
COVID19 spike in Miami-Dade makes Mayor Carlos Gimenez warn businesses added by Ladra on
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A “case” of coronavirus refers only to a positive test result showing someone has been infected. It does not mean that person will become sick-much less that he or she will be hospitalized, need intensive care, or die.
PS
The WHO recommends “masks should only be used by healthcare workers, caretakers or by people who are sick with symptoms like fever and cough.”
” Ladra doesn’t know where Gimenez is going to take from the budget to pay for the beefed up patrols by police officers-turned-babysitters ”
Police who are already on duty instead of hanging out most of their shift as this is for the most part all I see can do it so its not taking from their current duties , if they get a 911 call they stop this for now and respond to call and serious fines levied against individuals who refuse to wear masks go a long way .
I do not believe in targeting businesses but believe in fining individuals .and NO WARNING but serious fines .
A few days of this and things change .
I am all for opening it ALL up BUT I agree that at least for now , perhaps till end of July masks must be worn and plenty are not wearing masks .
I was in a big supermarket not long ago and as usual some without masks yip yapping on their phones , I see people with masks off pretty much in every establishment unless a manager is right at the door .
I do not blame employees for losing interest in enforcing this as they are risking their lives , some people are very nasty .
Would like to see police dish out serious fines and even arrest for those who threaten employees but that is not going to happen .
Police do not have to be there , the video the business has speaks for itself but again here in the ” kick the can ” down the road poorly run , extension of third world banana republic that is not happening .
It would have gone a LONG WAY .