Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – In the wake of a rising number of coronavirus cases, City of Fort Lauderdale code officers closed nine restaurants on Las Olas Boulevard and along the A1A corridor this past weekend for violating operating procedures related to COVID-19. The businesses were shut down for 24 hours and were not allowed to reopen until code officers verified that the violations were addressed.

The City’s code team will continue to investigate complaints and conduct inspections of restaurants and businesses to ensure COVID-19 regulations are being followed. These include, but are not limited to, adhering to requirements for indoor and outdoor seating capacity, facial coverings, social distancing, spacing of tables and chairs, prohibiting congregating at bar counters, limiting the size of parties, and proper hygiene and cleaning procedures.

As more businesses and amenities reopen in Broward County and throughout South Florida, the City of Fort Lauderdale reminds residents, visitors, and businesses that this is no time to be complacent. Please remain vigilant and continue to follow the emergency orders governing business operations, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.

The CDC acknowledges that the main way people are contracting COVID-19 is from respiratory droplets being spread between individuals in close quarters. The more people that gather in one place and the longer they are around each other, the higher the risk of transmission.

With that in mind, the City urges everyone to follow the rules that are in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Wear a mask or facial covering to protect yourself and others, maintain six feet of social distancing, avoid group gatherings of more than 10 people, and stay at home if you are sick. In addition, wash your hands frequently; use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; avoiding close contact with people who are sick; cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

By working together, cities throughout Broward County can once again get the spread of the coronavirus under control, and the county can move closer toward implementing Phase 2 of the reopening plan, which will allow more businesses to reopen and put more people back to work.

The City of Fort Lauderdale encourages the public to report COVID-19 violations to 311 or the City’s 24-hour Customer Service Center at 954-828-8000.

For more information about steps you can take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, visit https://bit.ly/3acut6g. To view Frequently Asked Questions about regulations governing the reopening of businesses, visit https://bit.ly/2UTo6zS. To view Frequently Asked Questions about the rules for facial coverings, visit, visit https://bit.ly/3g04Hp9