Local News

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez Signs State Of Emergency Over Coronavirus

March 11, 2020 / 11:22 PM EDT / CBS Miami

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has signed a state of emergency Wednesday night in an effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the mayor, the county's state of emergency will go into effect on Thursday.

"We will also be taking much more aggressive action with protecting our seniors here in Miami-Dade. Also reevaluating whether any large outdoor or indoor activities should be canceled," he said. "So there are a number of steps that now I can take because of the declaration of emergency here in Miami-Dade above and beyond what the governor gave me when he declared a state of emergency."

The Florida Department of Health has confirmed Miami-Dade County's first case of #Coronavirus (COVID-19). In light of this, and of the @WHO declaring a COVID-19 pandemic, I've signed an emergency declaration that goes into effect Thursday in #OurCounty. pic.twitter.com/Mboyu5bG2B
— Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) March 12, 2020

By declaring a state of emergency, the mayor puts in place the local government's ability to rapidly accept and deploy state and federal funds and quickly purchase supplies in addition to adding more staff.

The news comes as the Florida Department of Health confirmed Miami-Dade had its first case of the coronavirus.

Earlier in the day, the Town of Bay Harbor Islands declared a state of emergency after they were notified that a staffer believes she may have been exposed to the coronavirus in New York.

Both of those developments come a day after Broward County declared a state of emergency due to a fourth confirmed case of the coronavirus.

And a couple days before, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Florida, which allows the creation of a unified command structure, out-of-state medical personnel can operate in the state, the possible deployment of National Guard troops and the purchase of any necessary supplies.

Amid growing concerns about the coronavirus, Gimenez flew to Washington, D.C. early Wednesday for a series of meetings with top officials.

On his agenda were meetings with representatives from the cruise industry, the Florida congressional delegation and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.