By Matt Keeley
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The mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida is expected to declare a state of emergency in the county Wednesday night over the coronavirus.
Mayor Carlos Gimenez is due to sign the declaration Wednesday evening, and it will take effect Thursday. Though there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 in the county, the location is a very popular tourist destination.
"As we all know, COVID-19 continues to spread around the world. Miami-Dade-County has been aggressively dealing with this health threat in a proactive manner. Science, along with the recommend of the CDC, are guiding all our actions." Gimenez said on Twitter Wednesday.
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Though Miami-Dade County doesn't have any confirmed cases, Florida has 23 cases of coronavirus. Of those, 21 are Florida residents, and two are non-residents who were diagnosed in the state. There have been two deaths in Florida, and 353 people are being monitored, according to WESH.
The Miami-Dade County Mayor's Office confirmed to Newsweek that Gimenez would sign the declaration Wednesday night after he returns from a trip to Washington D.C., where he attended meetings about the coronavirus' effect on the cruise line industry. The Mayor's Office expects Gimenez to sign the declaration around 10:00 p.m, though that time is an approximation based on when the mayor's flight lands in Florida.
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So far, at least 19 states have declared a state of emergency in addition to Washington D.C., which made its declaration Wednesday.
The Ultra Music Festival, set to be held in Miami over March 20-22, was cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. The festival was expected to bring more than 100,000 people to the city, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Refunds will not be issued to people who bought a ticket to the Ultra Music Festival, but organizers say that the tickets can be exchanged for the 2021 or 2022 events.
Other large events have been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. Last week, SXSW cancelled its yearly event, and organizers of the Coachella music festival announced it would be postponed until October. Wednesday, the NCAA announced that its upcoming tournament would still take place, but to no audience. Similarly, most of the late-night talk shows, including The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and Full Frontal With Samantha Bee, would continue to produce shows but without a live audience.
The World Health Organization declared Wednesday that the coronavirus a pandemic. The virus has spread across 36 states in the U.S., as well as Washington D.C., with at least 170 cases nationwide. In the U.S. alone, 31 people have died, including the first deaths in New Jersey and South Dakota.
Worldwide, over 121,000 people have contracted the virus, however over 66,000 of those have fully recovered.
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World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
- Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
- Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before; during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
- If you feel unwell (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and call local health authorities in advance.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask usage
- Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
- Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
- Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
- Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of mask.
- Do not reuse single-use masks.
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