Coronavirus Closures in the City of Miami

As of 4 p.m. on March 13th, there are eight confirmed COVID-19 cases in Miami-Dade County. One of those presumptive positive cases is our own City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. In response to this world-wide pandemic of COVID-19, the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County and local businesses are enacting “social distancing” policies to protect our community. Here is a list of measures I have been able to compile so far that affect our downtown area and residents:

Government & Public Services

• Miami-Dade Public Schools: “Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) will close all school sites for the week of March 16, beginning Monday, due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). The following week, Spring Recess, will continue as planned.”
• Miami Dade College: “MDC is preparing for a potential transition to a remote learning environment. Effective Friday, March 13, through Sunday, March 29, all face-to-face AND online classes will be canceled. During this time period, all employees will continue to report to campus so we can ready for the transition. The College will remain operational and all employees will report to work as scheduled.”
• City of Miami Parks & Recreation: Effective Monday, March 16: “all City of Miami Parks & Recreation programs will be suspended until further notice. Additionally, all City of Miami pools will be closed effective Monday until further notice.” All permits granted by Parks & Recreation for smaller & private gatherings (birthday parties, youth soccer. etc.) have been cancelled for at least the next 30 days, and no new permits will be issued at this time.
• Miami-Dade County Senior Community Centers: “we are prioritizing the protection of our senior citizens because they are at highest risk of severe symptoms if they are infected by this particular strain of the Coronavirus… I have ordered the closure of community centers that serve seniors effective Monday”, March 16.
• Miami-Dade Public Library System: Currently open according to their March 4, 2020 Press Release.
• Miami-Dade Court System: “not shutting down in the wake of COVID-19, but it is going remote wherever it can. The court wants to minimize the appearance of people in the courtroom and limit transportation of inmates and juveniles to courts.” “all Foreclosure and Tax Deed sales scheduled for the week of March 16, 2020, March 23, 2020 and March 30, 2020, are cancelled.”
• PortMiami: “operating with caution”. Effective Friday, March 13, “all major cruise lines announced Friday they would cease U.S. sailings for at least the next 30 days in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus… The cruise lines suspended include Carnival, Holland America, Princess, Costa, Cunard and Seabourn, all owned by Carnival Corp; Disney Cruise Line; Norwegian, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas, all owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings; Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara and Silversea, owned by Royal Caribbean Ltd., and MSC.”

Events

• Ultra Music Festival: “the 22nd edition of Ultra Music Festival, originally scheduled for March 20, 21 and 22, 2020 will be postponed to March 26, 27 and 28, 2021.”
• Calle Ocho Music Festival: originally scheduled for March 15, 2020, has been “postponed to a later date”.
• Miami Film Festival: Miami Dade College has cancelled all remaining public screenings
• HI – HERImpact Miami: Pitch Competition Finals scheduled for “March 24, 2020 event at the Idea Center at Miami Dade College has been postponed due to COROVID-19 safety protocols. New dates to follow shortly.”
• 2020 Miami Open: Cancelled
• Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition: “The Youth Fair has been postponed under an emergency directive from Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. We are evaluating a potential rescheduling of The Youth Fair for later this year.”
• March Madness: “The NCAA announced March 12 that the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships, were canceled because of the evolving COVID-19 public health threat.”
• Florida Supercon at the Miami Beach Convention Center: originally scheduled for May 8 – 10, rescheduled for July 3 – 5.

Museums, Cultural Centers & Attractions

• HistoryMiami Museum: “following guidance from local, state, and federal officials, HistoryMiami Museum will be closed to the public effective March 13, 2020.”
• Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts: Effective Saturday, March 14, “the Arsht Center complex will be closed to the public. This includes the Café at Books & Books, the walk-up window of our box office and the administrative offices. The staff, including box office representatives, will be working remotely through March 27.”
• Frost Museum of Science: “As a preemptive measure, Frost Science, along PAMM will temporarily suspend public admission to the museums starting Monday, March 16, until further notice.”
• American Airlines Arena: All scheduled events through April 1st have been postponed.
• Museum of Art and Design at Freedom Tower: “In line with other cultural institutions and centers, the Museum of Art and Design and the MDC Special Collections will close until further notice.”
• Vizcaya: Effective Saturday, March 14, “Vizcaya will close to the public temporarily and until further notice”.
• Miami-Dade County Auditorium: Closed until further notice
• Miami Seaquarium: “We assessed the current COVID-19 situation and have made the decision to temporarily close our park, effective immediately, to help keep you, our team members and our communities safe and healthy.”
• Miami Children’s Museum: closed until further notice

Businesses

• CVS & Walgreens: Open. Nationwide, “both Walgreens and CVS said March 13 they plan to conduct COVID-19 tests… Both pharmacy chains said they’re working with CMS and the CDC to help increase the frequency of testing for the disease caused by the new coronavirus.” No information yet whether this will include any of our downtown locations.
• Publix: Effective Saturday, March 14, all stores will be closing at 8:00 p.m.
• Brightline: Effective Saturday, March 14, “postponing all leisure related events and specialty trains. This includes our Buzzer Beater service, this weekend’s Dino Train (cancelled), the upcoming Havana Rum Train and other station related events.” Brightline will continue to operate regular scheduled service.
• St. Patrick’s Day Block Party in Wynwood, Sprung! Spring Beer Festival, Wynwood Art Walk Block Party and all other SWARM events: “postponing all South Florida special events until further notice.”
• Concrete Beach Brewery in Wynwood: “Out of an abundance of caution, we’ve decided to close our Social Hall for a week, starting Friday, March 13 and have canceled all Social Hall events during the month of March.”
• Little Lighthouse Foundation Hearts and Stars Gala: originally scheduled for March 11 through 14, has been postponed to November.

Additional Resources

• City of Miami COVID-19 Updates
• Miami-Dade County Service Updates
• Florida Health Department
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
• World Health Organization

This is NOT a comprehensive list. If you know of other closures or preventative measures to protect Downtown Miami residents and visitors from the spread of Coronavirus, please add them in the comments. Stay safe, Miami!

UPDATED: Saturday, March 17 @ 7:00 p.m. – Frost Museum of Science: “As a preemptive measure, Frost Science, along PAMM will temporarily suspend public admission to the museums starting Monday, March 16, until further notice.”