Miami: Cover your faces inside grocery stores, pharmacies

The city of Miami has stepped up its response to the coronavirus pandemic by requiring everyone inside grocery stores, pharmacies and most other retail business that are still open to wear face masks.

The order signed Wednesday went into effect early Thursday morning. The Miami Herald reported the order also required any delivery workers and construction workers to cover their faces as well.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who has recovered from coronavirus, that increased law enforcement will accompany the measure. He said police officers at first will help educate people before issuing fines for not complying with the measure.Suarez said business owners are expected to enforce the rule, and if there are rampant violations, the business may be shut down or fined.

“Obviously when you do this, the hope is you have a vast majority of people complying,” Suarez told the newspaper.Other cities in Miami-Dade County, including Miami Beach, Cutler Bay and Aventura, have already implemented similar measures. Monroe County is also requiring people inside all businesses to wear masks.

As of Wednesday night, 5,461 of Florida’s 15,698 confirmed cases of the virus were in Miami-Dade County. The state has recorded 323 deaths from coronavirus.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued guidelines encouraging people to wear cloth face coverings in public settings, such as stores, especially in areas where the coronavirus is being transmitted at higher rates.

(Image Credit: AP)