Miami park ranger hospitalized with COVID-19. As infections rise, people urged to isolate

An employee of the city of Miami’s parks and recreation department has been hospitalized with the coronavirus.

The employee, a 38-year-old man, felt ill during his shift on Saturday. The worker immediately went to a local hospital and was admitted, according to a bulletin sent to city staff Thursday evening. He remains there receiving treatment for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

“While on duty, the employee did not enter any buildings or come into close contact with anyone,” reads the bulletin. “The city has already contacted all persons — including employees and family members — who may have come into contact with this employee.”

City employees were informed of their colleague’s hospitalization Thursday evening shortly before Mayor Francis Suarez sent out an email and social media posts reiterating advice that has been echoing through Miami-Dade government circles: Stay inside as much as possible, and keep at least a six-foot distance from others.

“The intent of this message is to urge all Miami residents to self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent possible to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible,” Suarez said. “If it is absolutely necessary to leave your place of residence, ... you should at all times reasonably comply with social distancing requirements.”

Suarez concluded his statement by urging residents to “shelter in place to the extent possible and to avoid any and all unnecessary interactions with others.” The mayor’s statement emphasizes local governments’ desire to stop the spread of COVID-19, though the city has not issued an emergency order forcing people to stay inside or face a fine, a measure taken earlier this week in the San Francisco Bay area.

Suarez told the Miami Herald that the city of Miami’s current legal position is that it cannot impose a mandatory order forcing people to stay inside.

Earlier Thursday, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez ordered the most sweeping set of closures yet in the public health crisis, closing the county’s beaches and parks and forcing the shutdown of nearly all businesses except for “essential” services. A top county official said residents cannot take a walk in a park, “but you can take a walk on the street you live on.”

Businesses that can continue to operate include: crews on open construction sites, engineering firms, pet-supply stores, pool and landscaping services, and child care if administered to groups of 10 or fewer. The order also listed exemptions for grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, and other businesses considered vital to daily life. That includes all government buildings, coin laundries, healthcare providers, taxi operations, and carryout and delivery services from restaurants.