Miami-Dade County’s largest municipalities have unified to announce they would all be reopening in phase one on May 20. The news follows the release of Mayor Carlos Giménez’s 185-page proposed manifesto detailing the county’s guidelines for a "New Normal," where easing restrictions would begin on May 18.*
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With a projected date in place, the mayors of the City of Miami, Key Biscayne, Doral, Hialeah, Miami Gardens and North Bay Village (among others not mentioned during the conference) agreed on an alternative timeline for their respective domains. The guidelines follow Miami Beach’s earlier announcement, targeting May 20 for phase 1a (retail, museums and beauty salons) and May 27 for 1b, when restaurants would be allowed to reopen. While still tentative, the plan would call for 50-percent occupancy in phase 1a and 25-percent occupancy for 1b. Giménez’s plan differs from the state’s, calling for restaurants to reopen at 50-percent capacity. Ultimately, the governor will have to make that call and social-distancing guidelines should be followed no matter what.
This is the first time since the shutdown that most of Miami-Dade’s major cities coordinate reopenings. "People don’t know where Miami ends and where Hialeah begins—it’s important to work together and have the same overall rules," said Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hérnandez, echoing what everyone is likely thinking. Up until now, news of closures and reopenings has been mostly unclear and confusing.
So, what’s actually reopening soon? These are the dates to note.
May 14: Marinas—City of Miami
May 20: Parks—City of Miami and Hialeah (neither city agreed to reopen its parks when the county lifted restrictions)
May 20: Retail, salons and barbershops—City of Miami, Hialeah, Miami Gardens and North Bay Village
May 27: Restaurants—City of Miami and Hialeah
June 1: Restaurants—Miami Gardens
The City of Coral Gables was not included in today’s virtual conference but sources tell us that no businesses of any kind will reopen on May 18. Doral did form part of the coalition but its mayor has yet to respond with concrete dates.
We’ll continue to monitor the situation as news of potential reopenings develop.
*At press time, the document was in its final draft stage and had not yet been approved by the Florida governor.
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