Hundreds of college spring breakers have defied orders from police to stop partying on the beach after a stretch of Florida’s South Beach was closed due to coronavirus fears.
Instead of returning home when the famed party strip was closed on Saturday afternoon many students continued the week of celebrations further down the coast on other parts of the beach.
The most popular parts of the beach closed to the public from 4.30pm Saturday and are set to remain shut until March 19 with Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber declaring that spring break in Miami Beach is ‘over’ after a state of emergency was declared Thursday.
Spring Break continues in South Beach as parts of the beaches were closed, which led to Spring Breakers occupying other parts of the beach
Instead of returning home when the famed party strip was closed on Saturday afternoon many students continued celebrations further down the coast
With 149 positive cases of coronavirus in the state of Florida, many of whom are teens or in their early twenties, the Centers for Disease Control has advised that all events with over 50 people attending should be cancelled.
Four people in the state have died from the virus.
Despite warning signs at the entry of the beach advising against mass gatherings and urging beach goers to practice social distancing the crowds of students continued to pour in throughout Sunday.
In close physical proximity the crowds appeared to disregard the warnings put forward by the CDC.
Students ignored signs to avoid ‘mass gatherings’ and practice ‘social distancing’
In close physical proximity the crowds appeared to disregard the warnings put forward by the CDC
With 149 positive cases of coronavirus in the state of Florida the Centers for Disease Control has advised that all events with over 50 people attending should be cancelled
A group of students carryout acrobatics on the beach as they enjoy a drink in the sun
South Beach, Florida, has closed from fifth to fifteenth street until March 19 to stop mass gatherings by the students
City Manager Jimmy Morales enacted the emergency measures over the weekend as party-hungry college students continued to travel to the popular spring break destination, despite the threat of the coronavirus outbreak and the news that President Trump is considering domestic travel restrictions.
The Centers for Disease Control even greeted beachgoers with a floating billboard on Saturday which urged sunbathers to avoid contact with other people who are sick.
Morales went a step further as the cases in Florida began to jump, opening up Ocean Drive to cars and deciding to close public beaches from seventh to tenth street along South Beach from 4.30pm Saturday to limit gatherings of spring breakers – the closure has now extended from fifth to fifteenth street.
In an email to Mayor Gelber, Morales claimed that spring breakers ‘don’t seem to care about viruses’ but that these measures should go some way to cutting down potentially harmful large gatherings.
Police presence was obvious on the stretch of beach which is yet to be closed in Miami Beach
Many took the opportunity to pose for a spring break social media photo in their bikinis
Students washed off in the sea after relaxing on the beach while other groups held competitive sports games such as American football in the sea
Some schools in the state have also closed due to the threat posed by the virus, a child can be seen near the group of students
‘Miami Beach is a popular vacation spot for spring breakers, yet with school closings and expanded spring breaks, the influx of visitors is extremely high,’ Gelber said.
‘It would be irresponsible for us not to limit crowd sizes in these public areas.
‘Not only for our residents and visitors, but for the health and safety of our first responders.
‘We cannot continue to put them at risk by asking them to expose themselves to the possibility of contracting this virus.’
Restaurants in the area with a capacity of over 250 people were told to reduce the number of people they serve or close
Addressing the students Mayor Gelber told Sun Sentinel : ‘You have a mother, you have a grandmother and maybe a great-grandmother. That virus can be extremely dangerous.’
Police are present on the closed main stretch of South Beach from Fifth Street to 15th Street
People who violate the beach closure could be hit with a $500 fine or face up to 60 days in jail. A couple get cosy on the beach despite social distancing (right)
Restaurants in the area with a capacity of over 250 people were told to reduce the number of people they serve or close.
The city announced on Monday: ‘Starting 3/16 non-essential businesses will be required to close daily by 10PM & there will be a curfew in the Entertainment District from 11PM – 5AM.’
Some schools in the state have also closed due to the threat posed by the virus.
Addressing the students Mayor Gelber told Sun Sentinel: ‘You have a mother, you have a grandmother and maybe a great-grandmother. That virus can be extremely dangerous to them.’
Miami Beach Police shut down the beach by 10th street in Miami Beach, not allowing any Spring Breakers at this section of the sand
Spring Break continues in South Beach as parts of the beaches were closed, as police standby
Police are present on the closed main stretch of South Beach from Fifth Street to 15th Street.
People who violate the closure could be hit with a $500 fine or face up to 60 days in jail.
Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis said at a press conference: ‘Florida is not going to be a place where you are going to be out until 2am with 500 people in some bar. Those gatherings present high risks.’