WYNWOOD ZIKA MAP LIFTED; NEIGHBORHOOD GETS CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH FROM FEDERAL, STATE AUTHORITIES
Florida Governor Rick Scott, Local Mayors Join Wynwood Business Improvement District for Announcement at Wynwood Walls
Miami, FL (September 19, 2016) – Florida Governor Rick Scott visited Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood today to announce that state and federal authorities have lifted the “Zika Zone” map that has covered the urban, arts-focused neighborhood since late July, when a number of non-travel cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus were identified there. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and City of Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado were also on hand for the announcement, along with elected leaders of the Wynwood Business Improvement District (BID), which represents more than 400 local property owners. Government authorities cleared Wynwood – including Midtown and Design District areas of Miami – after no new cases of Zika were discovered there for the past 45 days.
“When we announced Wynwood as the first place in our nation to have local transmission of the Zika virus, Wynwood was immediately sent into the national spotlight,” said Governor Scott. “Over the past few weeks, Floridians have worked together to prevent the spread of mosquitoes, take proper precautions to protect one another, and support local businesses in Wynwood. We saw the success of this hard work each time we announced a reduction of the zone in Wynwood, and we see it clearly today now that the entire Wynwood zone has been lifted. This would not have been possible without aggressive mosquito control measures, outreach to the community, education efforts and the vigilant actions of the residents and businesses in Wynwood.”
While the Zika cases identified in the Wynwood area were clustered in a very small space, health officials placed a broad perimeter – the now-ubiquitous “Zika Zone” – around a one-square-mile area that encompassed the entire Wynwood neighborhood, as well as other nearby districts. The measure prompted a drop-off in customers at many of the small, independent businesses that contribute to Wynwood’s unique character. Today’s decision by federal health officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to lift the Zika map is expected to have a positive effect on business, as it drives home the point that no new cases of the virus have been identified in the area in more than six weeks.
“The lifting of the travel advisory in Wynwood is a testament to what we can achieve as
a community when we work together and follow the recommended protocol,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “We have had no additional cases of local transmission in the area since the beginning of August because we were proactive, aggressive and responsible in our approach to reducing the mosquito population.”
“We are very happy about today’s announcement,” said City of Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado. “Zika has had a devastating effect on the economy of Wynwood and now we need support from all levels of government – and very importantly from our community – to help this incredible neighborhood get back on track.”
“The Wynwood community is as resilient as it is unique, and we’re glad that our efforts over the past two months to knock out Zika have proven successful,” said Wynwood BID Chairman Joseph Furst. “We invite our friends from across South Florida and beyond to come back and enjoy the incredible neighborhood that they all know and love.”
“The lifting of the Zika advisory today is the result of the collaborative efforts of the Wynwood BID, Governor Rick Scott, Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami, and health professionals from the Florida Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control,” said Wynwood BID Vice Chairman Albert Garcia. “Since the first local, non-travel cases of the virus were announced in July, the Wynwood BID worked tirelessly alongside government officials to safeguard Wynwood and rid it of Zika-carrying mosquitos. Our community is grateful for all that our local, state and federal officials have done to ensure that Wynwood remains safe for residents and visitors. We encourage the public to rediscover Wynwood’s world renowned street art, cultural, retail and unique dining experiences.”
The collective efforts of the Wynwood BID, Governor Rick Scott, Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami, and health professionals from the Florida Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control included:
- Draining all standing water from streets, sewers and properties throughout Wynwood
- Educating local workers, property owners, residents and visitors about the virus
- Ground and aerial spraying to eliminate the mosquitos that carry Zika, as well as their larvae
- Providing insect repellant to local workers and visitors in the affected area
- Keeping local businesspeople and residents informed of the latest developments
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About the Wynwood Business Improvement District (BID)
The Wynwood Business Improvement District (“BID”) is a municipal board of the City of Miami government that represents more than 400 commercial property owners that comprise the 50-city-block Wynwood Arts District. The Wynwood BID Board of Directors
are representatives elected by their community and, alongside an Executive Director, they work to enhance security and sanitation services in the neighborhood, advocate for the betterment of the area, raise awareness of advancements being made, and plan for the future of Wynwood.