Massive crowds continue to gather in Miami despite 8pm restrictions


Spring Breakers partied into the weekend in Miami despite restrictions placed on roadways Thursday night to dispel some of the massive and rowdy crowds during the pandemic.  

Worries about renewed Covid-19 outbreaks prompted Miami officials to enact a nighttime curfew following an infusion of rowdy ‘spring breakers’ that have frustrated locals.

An 8pm curfew was put into place in the entertainment district for Thursday through Monday, March 29. Road closures lasted from 10pm until 6am, the Miami-Dade Transportation & Public Works shared on Twitter. 

The MacArthur, Venetian and the Julia Tuttle Causeway were partially closed, with the agency sharing that there could be delays to Metrobus routes until March 29.

Worries about renewed Covid-19 outbreaks prompted Miami officials to enact a nighttime curfew following an infusion of rowdy 'spring breakers' that have frustrated locals

Worries about renewed Covid-19 outbreaks prompted Miami officials to enact a nighttime curfew following an infusion of rowdy ‘spring breakers’ that have frustrated locals

Revelers walk away as police officers ask them to leave during an 8pm curfew imposed by local authorities on spring break festivities

Revelers walk away as police officers ask them to leave during an 8pm curfew imposed by local authorities on spring break festivities 

Curfew was imposed on the entertainment district in Miami Beach

Curfew was imposed on the entertainment district in Miami Beach

Despite the road closures, party goers still took to the streets and many ignored Miami Beach police officers who tried to get them to leave. 

While there were a few people wearing masks, the vast majority of those out partying did not appear to have masks on. 

‘What we are experiencing this year is not your typical spring break,’ Miami Beach Commissioner Steven Meiner said to CBS Miami of the chaos at the beach.  

Despite the road closures, party goers still took to the streets and many ignored Miami Beach police officers who tried to get them to leave

Despite the road closures, party goers still took to the streets and many ignored Miami Beach police officers who tried to get them to leave

Miami Beach police officers enforce an 8pm curfew imposed by local authorities on March 26

Miami Beach police officers enforce an 8pm curfew imposed by local authorities on March 26

More police sit out on the street as they tell party goers to head home and enforce the curfew on Miami Beach

More police sit out on the street as they tell party goers to head home and enforce the curfew on Miami Beach

A street vendor walks away as police officers ask revelers to leave during an 8pm curfew imposed by local authorities

Street vendors walk along Ocean Drive during spring break festivities ahead of an 8pm curfew

Street vendors do their best to get away from police as they arrive on Ocean Drive to stop the massive crowds that have gathered

Miami Beach police officers enforce an 8pm curfew imposed by local authorities on spring break festivities, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic

Miami Beach police officers enforce an 8pm curfew imposed by local authorities on spring break festivities, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic

Meiner also described the large crowds as being too unruly for authorities. 

‘Our officers are far outnumbered and really we don’t have the resources to contain the amount of crowds and the kind of behavior we’re seeing,’ Meiner added. 

‘We had over 100 illegal guns confiscated, drugs, it just really became a necessity at that point to do the curfew,’ said Commissioner Meiner.’ 

Many Miami residents are in favor of the curfew, noting that the spring breakers have made life miserable for them. 

The scenes from Miami Beach come as a top public health official said she was ‘deeply concerned’ about the trajectory of COVID-19 cases. 

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the number of new cases over a 7-day period increased seven percent over the previous week. She also said hospitalizations are increasing, which could be signs of another surge to come in the country.  

‘I remain deeply concerned about this trajectory. We have seen cases and hospital admissions move from historic declines to stagnations to increases. And we know from prior surges that if we don’t control things now, there is a real potential for the epidemic curve to soar again,’ she said, ABC News reports.

Some 30,129,858 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the United States and 547,756 people have died. 

According to the Florida Department of Health, there are currently 2,033,179 total cases in Florida while there have there have been 33,756 people who have died from the virus. 

A group of spring breakers sit for a picnic on Ocean Beach

A group of spring breakers sit for a picnic on Ocean Beach

People dance as Miami Beach Police escort them out of Ocean Drive as curfew is in effect in Miami Beach on March 25

People dance as Miami Beach Police escort them out of Ocean Drive as curfew is in effect in Miami Beach on March 25

Most ignored the authorities as police descended on the streets to try to curb the massive crowds

Most ignored the authorities as police descended on the streets to try to curb the massive crowds

Miami Beach Police escort people off Ocean Drive as curfew is in effect in Miami Beach, Florida, on March 25

Miami Beach Police escort people off Ocean Drive as curfew is in effect in Miami Beach, Florida, on March 25

People take to the streets of Miami Beach despite the curfew enforced by local authorities

People take to the streets of Miami Beach despite the curfew enforced by local authorities

The MacArthur, Venetian and the Julia Tuttle Causeway were partially closed, with the agency sharing that there could be delays to Metrobus routes until March 29

The MacArthur, Venetian and the Julia Tuttle Causeway were partially closed, with the agency sharing that there could be delays to Metrobus routes until March 29

While there were a few people wearing masks, the vast majority of those out partying did not appear to have masks on

While there were a few people wearing masks, the vast majority of those out partying did not appear to have masks on

People attend a party on a walkway near the beach, during spring break in Miami Beach on March 25 ahead of the curfew that was enforced by authorities

People attend a party on a walkway near the beach, during spring break in Miami Beach on March 25 ahead of the curfew that was enforced by authorities

More partygoers convene on the streets of Miami Beach on March 25. The party took place on a walkway near the beach

More partygoers convene on the streets of Miami Beach on March 25. The party took place on a walkway near the beach

People attend a party on a walkway near the beach, during spring break in Miami Beach on March 25

People attend a party on a walkway near the beach, during spring break in Miami Beach on March 25

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