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Florida's famed South Beach closed to prevent coronavirus spread

Virus Outbreak Florida
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Florida's famed South Beach has been closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Miami Beach officials ordered hundreds of college spring breakers and others from around the world off the beach Saturday as part of measures to prevent large gatherings.

To cut down on crowds at clubs and restaurants in South Beach, police were eliminating parking on major streets in the city's entertainment district.

Also Saturday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis banned most visits to nursing homes statewide as he acknowledged the coronavirus has likely spread into the general population.

DeSantis said Saturday while it will be frustrating for relatives not to visit loved ones in nursing homes, the ban is needed to prevent the virus' spread among the frail and elderly. Exceptions will be made for visitations to patients who are near death.

DeSantis told a news conference that the state's known infections now exceed 60 as the numbers jumped by a third Saturday. Two people have died in the state.