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These ‘essential’ stores, businesses will stay open during Miami’s coronavirus shutdown

By Melinda E. Rakowski 1 month ago

Grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and banks will not be affected by Miami-Dade County’s decision to close down hundreds of stores and businesses to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

The order also will not affect police, fire-rescue or dozens of other essential stores and services, including businesses that have the capability of interacting with customers solely by telephone or the Internet.

Here are some of the essential businesses and service allowed to stay open. Remember to call ahead for hours of operation as some stores and businesses might have limited hours during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Health, medicine and therapy

Hospitals, urgent care centers and doctor offices remain open. File photo.
Hospitals, urgent care centers and doctor offices remain open. File photo.

▪ Hospitals and urgent care centers

▪ Pharmacies, like CVS and Walgreens

▪ Doctors and dentists’ offices

▪ Other healthcare providers, including clinics, rehabilitation facilities, physical therapists, mental health professionals, psychiatrists and therapists.

Food

Grocery stores, food banks and pet stores will remain open. File photo.
Grocery stores,
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Tempers flare as Miami-Dade construction sites take COVID-19 precautions but stay open

By Melinda E. Rakowski 1 month ago

While the construction industry in Miami-Dade scrambles to raise safety standards to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, public and private sentiment that the job sites should shut down continues to grow.

Residents who live inside buildings where cosmetic repair work is being done agonize over the non-stop noise. Other people living near construction sites are stuck in their homes, where they can’t escape the ear-piercing beeps of heavy machinery.

“We are so upset,” said Carole Brendel, 67, who lives with her husband, Jurgen, 75, on the 29th floor at 2020 North Bayshore Drive in Edgewater, next to the site where developer Mill Creek Residential is building the 28-story luxury condo tower Modera Biscayne Bay.

“We’re not sleeping,” Brendel said. “We are stressed. The construction started six months ago, but back then we weren’t trapped inside our home 24/7. Now the beep-beep of the cement trucks wakes us

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