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Twerking Spring Breakers Party on South Florida Beaches Despite Social Distancing Orders

Hordes of young peopleĀ defied orders to practice social distancing as coronavirus concerns steadily increase, congregating on South Florida beaches Tuesday despite official calls to limit social events to groups of ten.

The phenomenon speaks to the growing generational tension between younger Americans — who, as President Trump said, may feel ā€œinvincibleā€ in this time of crisis — and older Americans who remain at a higher risk.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantisĀ announcedĀ on Tuesday the mass closure of bars and nightclubs as the coronavirus pandemic festers in the United States and in the state of Florida. He did not provide a stringent order for beaches in the Sunshine State but said the statewide position is in accordance with the CDC guidance of ā€œno group on a beach more than ten.ā€


ā€œYou have to have distance apart if you’re going to be out there,ā€ DeSantis said during Tuesday’s press conference. ā€œSo that will apply statewide.ā€


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The governorĀ notedĀ that local officials could take more aggressive action depending on the situations in their respective communities. Officials in the Miami area, for example, have taken more aggressive action, with Miami Beach imposing a curfew on popular blocks of South Beach and shutting down public beaches ā€œfrom Fifth through 15th streets — including Lummus Parkā€ in South Beach.

According to theĀ Miami Herald:

In Miami Beach, the emergency measures will run through at least March 19, but City Manager Jimmy Morales — who invoked his emergency powers on Thursday through a declaration of state of emergency — will ask the City Commission to extend them.

…

The directives expand the scope of an emergency measure Morales ordered Saturday toĀ closeĀ three blocks of beachĀ in South Beach early beginning at 4:30 p.m. On Friday, Morales issued hisĀ first emergency orderĀ requiring the city’s most popular restaurants and clubs to limit their capacity to under 250 people. Fort Lauderdale has alsoĀ prohibited gatheringsĀ of more than 250 people.

ā€œThe status quo with crowds of spring breakers is absolutely unacceptable,ā€ Miami Beach Commissioner Mark Samuelian said in a statement. ā€œEvery health expert is telling us we need social distancing — less interaction to reduce transmissions.ā€

ā€œWhile I empathize with our businesses and their employees, I fully support the City Manager’s additional emergency measures to enhance public safety,ā€ he added.


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Despite best efforts from officials, younger people have continued to flock to South Florida beaches, seemingly ignoring the calls to practice social distancing. That practice, officials say, could curb the impact of the virus on vulnerable Americans — older generations and those with underlying health issues. Nevertheless, photosĀ showĀ dozens, if not hundreds, of spring breakers on Miami’s South Beach reveling in their youth on St. Patrick’s Day, twerking, wrestling, and partying despite the Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber previously deeming spring break effectively ā€œover.ā€

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ā€œWe can’t have the kinds of crowds we’ve had, the kinds of gatherings,ā€ GelberĀ saidĀ during a news conference on Sunday.I walked down Ocean Drive yesterday, and what I saw was incredibly disturbing. It wasn’t just the typical large gatherings of people, but it was young people who believe they’re invincible and probably don’t really think of this in any way as a health crisis,ā€ he added.

Local 10Ā reportedĀ a similar phenomenon last week, noting that crowds on Hollywood Beach ā€œwere out in full force despite coronavirus concerns.ā€

The refusal to heed to the warnings of public health officials is furthering the generational divide across the board. None summed up the harsh reality better than actress Vanessa Hudgens, whoĀ cameĀ under fire after telling her 38 million Instagram followers that extreme social distancing measures are ā€œbullshitā€ because ā€œlike, yeah, people are going to die, which is terrible, but like, inevitable?ā€


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She has since apologized for her ā€œinsensitiveā€ words.

Nonetheless, President Trump said on Wednesday that younger generations need to ā€œheed the adviceā€ of officials.

ā€œWe don’t want them gathering, and I see they do gather — including on beaches and including in restaurants — young people. They don’t realize — they’re feeling invincible,ā€ Trump said during a Wednesday press conference.

ā€œThey were feeling totally invincible or are feeling that way but they don’t realize they can be carrying lots of bad things home to grandmother and grandfather and even their parents,ā€ he continued.

ā€œSo we want them to heed the advice. We made the advice, and I think it’s getting through. I do believe it’s getting through,ā€ he added.

Story cited here.

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