Thursday, July 9, 2020
We continue to provide our residents and businesses with the latest updates from the City of Miami Beach during this pandemic. As a reminder, today, the following amendments became effective:

  • All restaurants, cafeterias, and other food service establishment, regardless of site or seating capacity, shall be limited to offering OUTDOOR ON-PREMISES SERVICE ONLY. Outdoor service of customers for on-premises consumption shall only be offered between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day and shall CLOSE at 10 p.m. Notwithstanding the foregoing, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., such establishments may operate their kitchens strictly for the purpose of providing DELIVERY SERVICES ONLY. Take-out, pick-up, or curb-side pick-up shall be expressly prohibited between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. each day. Employees, janitorial personnel, contractors, and delivery personnel shall be allowed access to such establishments. No music shall be permitted, unless the volume does not exceed the level of a normal conversation. Any live entertainment is hereby PROHIBITED.

  • All of the following shall be closed pursuant to County EO 26-20, as amended: (a) movie theaters, (b) concert houses, (c) auditoriums, (d) playhouses, (e) bowling alleys, (f) arcades, (g) indoor and outdoor amusement facilities and attractions, (h) casinos (except casinos on sovereign tribal land), (i) adult theaters, special cabarets, and unlicensed massage establishments, as defined in section 847.001, Florida Statutes, (j) banquet halls, both stand alone and incident to any hotel or other business, and (k) ballrooms both stand alone and incident to any hotel and other establishment.

  • Per Miami Dade County EO 26-20, masks or facial coverings must be worn at all times inside gyms or fitness centers.

Reminder, Countywide curfew remains in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Read the latest news and updates below.

Message from the Mayor
View today's message from Mayor Dan Gelber below and read it in Spanish  here .
Miami-Dade County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Today, the Board of County Commissioners finally approved legislation sponsored by Commissioner Eileen Higgins, to create the  COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)  providing one-time rental assistance grants to low and moderate income persons in Miami-Dade County that have lost income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The initial funding for the program is $10 million from Miami-Dade County and will be allocated equally across all 13 commission districts.
   
The  ERAP will assist eligible residents in Miami-Dade who earn no more than 80 percent of the County area median income (AMI)  according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines, currently have a written lease, are not a participant in other rental assistance programs, and have documentation showing that their household’s income was impacted by COVID-19.
 
Applicants are able to apply online beginning Tuesday, July 14 at 9 a.m.  and closing at  5 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2020 . After completion of the application, which includes submission of supporting documentation, applicants will be notified via email if they have qualified for assistance. To submit an application, visit:  https://bit.ly/3iHM7E7 . The website will not be live until Tuesday, July 14 at 9 a.m.
Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting
The Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet   tomorrow, July 10   at 9 a.m.  virtually via Zoom her e:   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84763594345The meeting will be streamed live on MBTV Channel 660 on Atlantic Broadband or 99 on AT&T U-Verse.

How to provide spoken public comment during the meeting:
The public may provide spoken comment by dialing telephone  929.205.6099 or 888.475.4499 (toll free).  The Webinar ID is   847 6359 4345 . Press *9 to raise a hand to be placed in queue to speak.
Virtual Culture
Oolite Arts is launching its first ever online film festival  Close Quarters Commissions , showcasing the creativity of South Florida filmmakers during this trying time of tight spaces and limited resources.

Twelve filmmakers were each commissioned to make a film up to 3-minutes long during 2 weeks of quarantine. The films are wide-ranging in topic, from giving birth during a pandemic, to COVID-19 conspiracy theories to the challenges of both unemployment and working at home with young children. Some stories reflect the time in quarantine, while others are ideas filmmakers had long wanted to tell.

RSVP  to join Oolite Arts on Wednesday, July 15, at 7 p.m., to see their only in Miami stories at their new online micro-film festival. View more in our weekly virtual culture guide here .
Drive-Thru Food Distribution
Feeding South Florida and Commissioner David Richardson will host a drive-thru food distribution on Saturday, July 11.

Saturday, July 11
9 AM - 11 AM
2100 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL

The food distribution is on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. Please remain in your car and open the trunk when it's your turn in line.

If you do not have a car and would like to qualify for food assistance, please call or register online. Phone: 305.604.CITY (2489) or  www.miamibeachfl.gov/food
COVID-19 & Antibody Testing
Miami Beach Convention Center Testing Site
Both the COVID-19 active virus and antibody tests are available at the Miami Beach Convention Center testing facility located on 17 Street and Convention Center Drive. The testing capability for the active virus is 1,200 tests per day and the antibody testing has a capacity of 300 tests per day. Antibody results are typically provided within one hour while active virus results take a few days.

The COVID-19 drive-thru and walk-up testing site is available daily, including weekends, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Please note , drive-thru testing wait times can be up to four hours. We encourage you to have a full tank of gas and bring water, snacks and anything you may need to prepare for a long wait.

Walk-Up Testing
The walk-up testing site at 42 Street between Prairie and Royal Palm Avenue has moved to the parking lot at 21 Street and Collins Avenue. Once you check-in, you can return to your vehicle or move away from the mobile testing unit for your own protection and to ensure social distancing. There is no need to stand in a line, you will receive a text message advising when the nurse is ready for you.

This Saturday, July 11, testing will begin at 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., with the weekly food drive taking place in same area. A total of 400 tests are available each day at this site between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

At both testing site locations, appointments are not necessary and testing is FREE and offered to anyone 18 years or older, regardless of COVID-19 symptoms.
OneBlood Donation
OneBlood is working with the public and physicians to coordinate the delivery of potential lifesaving COVID-19 convalescent plasma to those in need. People who have recovered from coronavirus infection have developed antibodies to the virus that remain in the plasma portion of their blood.
 
Transfusing the plasma that contains the antibodies into a person still fighting the virus can provide a boost to the patient’s immune system and potentially help them recover. Click  here  to learn more and how you can donate today.
Face Coverings
All persons in public spaces and places, both indoors and outdoors, shall be required to wear facial coverings , as defined in the County’s EO 20-20, as amended.

Any person not wearing a facial covering is subject to a $50 civil fine.
 
Learn more about face coverings on our dedicated coronavirus webpage here .
Prepworks for SAT/ACT
Prepworks in partners hip with the City of Miami Beach are proud to provide online prep programs for the SAT and ACT for all Miami Beach youth residents. Prepworks is expanding free temporary access to online adaptive programs which i ncludes: practice tests, performance level specific modules, reports and virtual office hours.
 
Access is available now through August 31, 2020. To access:
  • Visit https://els.prepworks.com/mylogin/register
  • Enter code: MB_CV2020
  • Type in name and email, this email will become your username (please note your course will appear 24 hours after registration)
  • Go to: els.prepworks.com
  • Username: type in your email
  • Password: changeme (create your private password)
 
This is a self paced course, begin by taking Practice Test #1. Complete modules in SAT or ACT Math and English each week leading up to your official test. If you need help, email   support@prepworks.com
Stay Informed
Now more than ever it's important to get counted! So call up your friends and neighbors and ask them to visit  my2020census.gov  and make sure our community gets counted.

Visit our dedicated, city-related coronavirus webpage www.miamibeachfl.gov/coronavirus f or the most up-to-date information, including important resources, impacts to city services and more.

Our city hotline at 305.604.CITY (2489) is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. You can also email your questions to MBCovid@miamibeachfl.gov. Or connect with us through social media via email, Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter and via text message (text MBAlert to 888777).