Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the massive protests that took place in Florida and elsewhere throughout the country likely contributed to the new spike in coronavirus cases.
Gimenez, who is the highest-ranking official in Miami-Dade County, Florida, said on Sunday that the protests “obviously” contributed to the spread of the virus, but he noted that there are several other factors at play, including socialization at beaches and in restaurants.
“I think obviously the protests had a lot to do with it. We had, you know, thousands of young people together outside, a lot of them not wearing masks. And we know when you do that, and you are talking, and you are chanting, etc., that really spreads the virus,” he told Face the Nation.
“So absolutely, the protests had something to do with it, but also our people, our residents, did not — I think they let their guard down and started to socialize. And again, that also has to do with it. So it’s all the above. I’m not saying it’s just that[the protests], but it was a contributing factor,” he added.
Gimenez noted that the county closed beaches, restricted the sale of alcohol, and required the use of face masks in public to help curb the spread of the virus. Florida is one of several states struggling with a surge of new cases, including Texas, California, and Arizona.
Protesters have been demonstrating throughout the country against police brutality and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died after an officer knelt on his neck for several minutes during an arrest.
