Now, we are grateful for the long-awaited vaccines. Still, continued vigilance is required as high levels of infection persist – in the past week, there was an average of about 54,600 new cases and more than 1,000 virus-related deaths reported every day in the US, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Also, as high levels of infection persist while the country works to vaccinate more Americans, it's more likely the virus will continue to mutate and more concerning variants could arise, which could not only be more transmissible – but also pose a problem for vaccines.
Despite these warnings and with apparent disregard, visitors are flocking to Florida beaches, bars, and restaurants in 2021 spring break season. Masks and distancing are forgotten.
Florida threw open its doors to tourists after a year of coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions around the country. Last September, Florida became one the largest states to roll back Covid capacity restrictions when Gov. Ron DeSantis reopened bars and restaurants to full capacity. Governor Ron DeSantis has bragged that the state is an "oasis of freedom" during the pandemic – and the stir-crazy are flocking to the state's restriction-free beaches and nightlife.
DeSantis said he's seen no signs of a possible "second wave" of infections but said that hospitals have plenty of capacity and the state is ready to respond if one emerges. He continued …
"Every business has the right to operate. Some of the locals can do reasonable regulations. But you can't just say no."
In February at CPAC, DeSantis declared …
“We are in an oasis of freedom in a nation that’s suffering from the yoke of oppressive lockdowns. Florida got it right, and the lockdown states got it wrong … We will not go back to the failed Republican establishment of yesteryear.”
(Alex Daugherty. “DeSantis at CPAC: Florida’s an ‘oasis of freedom,’ but no mention of Trump.” Tampa Bay Times. February 26, 2021.)
About 100 people were arrested in Miami Beach last weekend after police responded to unruly crowds, local officials said. Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber declared a state of emergency on March 20 and set an 8 p.m. curfew Saturday, saying the crowds that have descended on the city recently are "more than we can handle."
It was unclear how long the curfew would remain in effect, but interim city manager Raul Aguila told the Miami Herald he recommends keeping the rules in place through at least 12 April. A countywide midnight curfew was already in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Still …
Immediately after the curfew kicked in Saturday, South Beach crowds weren’t much affected. Large numbers ignored the curfew. Pedestrians on Twitter said Miami Beach Police SWAT teams were blocking roads and moving to disperse the crowd. Pepper balls were heard being shot and a brief stampede started. Officials said the situation was out of control.
Even as police were trying to thin the crowd, the party didn’t stop. In other acts of defiance, some people twerked on cars as crowds moved, including on a police car, and others did tire burnouts as they tried to drive out the area, social media video shows.
Miami Beach Police arrested at least a dozen people.
Police didn’t just shut down the entertainment district. Under Aguila’s order, beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday and extending until 6 a.m., the city will block most traffic on the eastbound lanes of the three main causeways that connect Greater Miami to Miami Beach — the MacArthur, Julia Tuttle and Venetian causeways.
(“Spring break crowds slow to obey South Beach curfew.” Tampa Bay Times. March 20, 2021.)
Mayor Gelber said …
“At night, it feels like a rock concert, wall-to-wall people over blocks and blocks On Friday night, someone shot a weapon into the air, and there was a riot, Too many are coming, really, without the intention of following the rules, and the result has been a level of chaos and disorder that is just something more than we can endure … Other things have happened that are similarly challenging, and so it feels like a tinder, it feels like just any match could set it off. The situation has worsened with each day, and the pandemic makes things even more challenging."
(Melissa Alonso and Theresa Waldrop. “Miami Beach declares a state of emergency and curfew as spring break crowds spark safety concerns.” CNN. March 21, 2021.)
"You see those pictures of people crowded into bars, for example, especially indoors, no masks, basically no physical distancing. That just creates an unfortunately ideal situation for transmission of Covid."
– Cindy Prins, epidemiologist at the University of Florida
What the Hell?
I completely understand the pent-up emotions, the need to let loose, the desperate feeling of wanting to return to normal, but, in my opinion, these spring break revelers are immature, indifferent, spoiled-ass hedonists. They care more about their instant gratification – not compromising on delay – than they do about the health and safety of innocents.
First of all, these bacchanals impatiently risk a nationwide spike in COVID-19 cases, threatening to set back progress on defeating the virus and delaying herd immunity. And, second, given outlets for their 2021 fun, they still ignore Florida health recommendations and flock together to declare their abandon … not sensible adherence in an “oasis of freedom,” but the right to mock, flaunt, and scorn the simplest measures of protection.
I was thinking about the trials and tribulations faced by my parents, including the Great Depression and World War II, and the sacrifices they made during these trying times to preserve our freedoms and liberties. I assure you these 2021 college-age spring breakers have no concept of the strong will of those who came before – what they gave up, what they endured, and what they summoned to overcome hardships.
What do responsible parents do when their children refuse to listen to reason and refuse to exhibit proper care for others? Surely, they do not remain indifferent. They take actions to reinforce proper limits – Timeout? Restricted access to freedoms? Reinforcing desirable behaviors? Parents are obligated to act responsibly when their sons and daughters insist on continuing dangerous juvenile behaviors.
Governments and officials should do the same when a nation is seeking a solution to ending a pandemic. Florida Governor DeSantis, Miami Beach Mayor Gelber, and other state officials – even when your businesses are suffering from the lockdown, you must not put money over safety. The nation has come too far to let you risk crushing recent strides in controlling the virus. If the spring-breakers won't adhere to health recommendations, then shut the party down. Close beaches, close businesses, and refuse to compromise.
Besides, if public patience and science join together for a reasonable while longer, we may all be free of covid restrictions. Rights that go against public safety?
Face it, Florida: you created your own problem – one that the U.S. cannot ignore because of the peril therein – and, for that degree of harm, you are responsible. The threat and the stain you put on the nation reflect your lack of concern for innocent people everywhere. Your tourist economy will never recover if the country remains in the chains of COVID-19.
And, hey, all you fun-loving spring-breakers, soon you will be going back home to Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, and crazy old Uncle Ben … you know, the one with the aggravating cough of COPD. For now, “Carpe diem!” … eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die.
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