Revelers in Florida are continuing to party days after the New Year despite the state seeing five consecutive days of more than 10,000 new Covid cases.
Pictures show drinkers packed into beach bars in Fort Lauderdale with few of them wearing masks or observing social distancing.
Other images from Miami show groups of people gathering on beaches and not wearing masks.
Hundreds of bikini-clad youngsters were seen soaking up the sun at pool parties and on the beaches over the weekend despite rising fears about the virus.
Revelers in Florida are continuing to party days after the New Year despite the state seeing five consecutive days of more than 10,000 new Covid cases
Bars in Fort Lauderdale were packed with crowds on Sunday as they partied in close proximity to each other without masks or social distancing
It comes after a whopping 31,000 infections were registered on the first two days of 2021 in Florida
Florida has recorded more than 10,000 new infections a day for five consecutive days as the virus surge continues
Experts have warned that the numbers will only get worse in the next few weeks as the effects of holiday travel and gatherings become clear
In Miami alone, thousands flocked to the beaches to soak up the sun for the New Year holiday weekend.
On Saturday, people were seen enjoying South Beach, as others flocked to a nearby hotel for a raucous pool party.
The ongoing pandemic appeared to be far from the sun seekers’ minds as they ignored social distancing protocols and failed to wear face masks.
The revelers downed drinks and danced to music as their festivities spilled onto the sidewalk, seeming to alarm some elderly citizens who were making their way through the area at the same time.
On the same day, Miami-Dade County recorded more than 5,000 new cases of COVID-19, as well as 51 new deaths from the virus.
And then on Sunday, Miami-Dade County reported an additional 1,547 cases and 12 more COVID-19 deaths, putting its pandemic totals at 305,734 cases and 4,251 deaths.
In Florida, there were 31,000 new infections reported in the first two days of 2021.
Another 10,603 cases were recorded on Sunday while hospitalizations are nearing 7,000 in the Sunshine State.
The pandemic is showing no signs of abating despite vaccinations being underway, with Florida recording its highest ever daily number of cases last Thursday.
In a 24-hour period, more than 17,190 new cases were confirmed, shattering the previous high that was recorded back in July.
Another 10,603 cases were recorded on Sunday while hospitalizations are nearing 7,000 in the Sunshine State
The pandemic is showing no signs of abating despite vaccinations being underway, with Florida recording its highest ever daily number of cases last Thursday
In a 24-hour period last week, more than 17,190 new cases were confirmed, shattering the previous high that was recorded back in July
The US has reported nearly 20.5 million coronavirus cases and over 350,770 deaths as of Sunday evening
More than 1.35 million Floridians have contracted COVID-19, and 21,890 have died.
Health professionals have urged residents and visitors to exercise caution amid the spiking numbers – advice that appears to be falling on deaf ears.
Jay Wolfson, senior associate dean at the Morsani College of Medicine, told The Tampa Bay Times that the numbers are likely to remain alarmingly high until at least February.
‘There’s an awful lot of gray, if not dark, news out there. Now is the time to become even more diligent and focused. ‘Folks are going to have to be patient,’ he stated.
Health professionals have urged residents and visitors to exercise caution amid the spiking numbers – advice that appears to be falling on deaf ears
More than 1.35 million Floridians have contracted COVID-19, and 21,890 have died since the pandemic started last year
Florida ‘s Republican Gov Ron DeSantis has not enforced mask mandates and has been reluctant to limit the number of people allowed inside businesses
That move has been harshly criticized by Democrats from other states, many of whom have imposed harsh lockdown rules
Hospitalizations have risen by 162 percent in the last two months, setting new records on five days in the last week. COVID Tracking Project’s tally of 125,544 on Sunday excluded seven states and territories which had not yet reported daily data
Florida ‘s Republican Gov Ron DeSantis has not enforced mask mandates and has been reluctant to limit the number of people allowed inside businesses.
That move has been harshly criticized by Democrats from other states, many of whom have imposed harsh lockdown rules.
A recent report from CNN claimed the move has angered mayors and other politicians within Florida itself.
‘I gave up talking to the governor a while back,’ one mayor, who is a registered Republican, told the news network.
Meanwhile, maskless tourists and residents of Miami were seen on Sunday enjoying the beach of the Fontainebleau Hotel
Hardly any of the beachgoers wore masks as groups gathered on the beach on Sunday
A few elderly men were also seen hanging out at a beach in Miami on Sunday