Those who have COVID-19, or are worried about getting it from someone in their home, can now isolate in a hotel room provided by Miami-Dade County.
The county has set up a help line which can be reached at 305-614-1716 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.
The new program has been expanded to residents with or without symptoms. On Friday, Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced the county, in partnership with the state, is adding 400 rooms to this program bringing the total to 500.
"This program is focused on homes where there's not enough room to isolate," Gimenez said. "This new 400 room expansion will also help families with a member who has tested postie but does not necessarily have any symptoms, though that person can still spread the virus to family members."
The recent spike in COVID-19 infections among 18 to 34-year-olds has put multi-generational families at a particular risk which the expansion aims to protect.
The Florida Department of Health and area hospitals recommended Miami-Dade provide these rooms. Throughout the pandemic, the county has provided hotel rooms to healthcare workers, first responders, homeless individuals and other who need to isolate for short periods of time.
“As we continue to take tough measures to tamp down the spread of the virus, we must do all we can to protect our seniors and at-risk families, as well as our hospital personnel, who have been working nonstop throughout this pandemic,” Mayor Gimenez said.
