Florida reports new high of positive coronavirus cases, Miami-Dade and Broward County reach record levels

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Miami Beach Mayor Gelber on issuing curfew, mask mandate, beach closures ahead of holiday weekend

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber weighs in on ‘CAVUTO Live.’

Florida health officials recorded another record-breaking day, as cases of coronavirus spiked to their highest numbers yet in both Miami-Dade and Broward County on Saturday.

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Despite beach closures ahead of Fourth of July weekend to prevent large crowds from congregating, there were 2,418 new cases of coronavirus in Miami-Dade County on Saturday.

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber chastised residents for "not listening" and refusing to adhere to social distancing protocols and mask mandates that have been in effect for weeks.

"For some people, they're listening to mixed messages from Washington and they're deciding they don't need to wear a mask," Gelber told Fox News' Neil Cavuto in an interview on "Cavuto Live," Saturday.

Marvin Turcios puts out American flags at Ocean's 10 restaurant on Miami Beach, Florida's famed Ocean Drive on South Beach, July 4, 2020. The Fourth of July holiday weekend began Saturday with some sobering numbers in the Sunshine State: Florida logged a record number of people testing positive for the coronavirus.  (AP)

In Broward County, there were 1,346 new cases recorded, the Florida Department of Health said, bringing the county's total to 19,575.

State totals jumped to more than 11,000 cases -- a record since the pandemic began, bringing Florida's caseload to at least 190,052.

Hospitalizations were up by 585 people and health officials said 14 percent of Floridians have been infected COVID-19. It was unclear if that number is current infections or the total number of those who have been infected over time, not accounting for those who have recovered.

The current national rate of positive tests is 7.5 percent, according to Johns Hopkins University.

In addition, 18 more people died in Florida, as the death toll ticked up to 3,702 people.

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"We have a very serious health care issue," Gelber said. "We have over 1,400 people in our hospitals right now. Our intensive care is increasing. Our people on vents is increasing. We can't just ignore that."

The rapid rise of new cases broke new records for the Sunshine State Thursday, as officials noted higher numbers of confirmed cases six times greater than the daily record last month.

Gelber received backlash from residents as he tightened restrictions in his city, halting phased reopenings and implementing a curfew in an attempt to bring the spike in new cases down. In addition, restaurant-goers were ordered to wear a mask throughout their entire meals, only taking it off to eat and drink.

A group of people, wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, walk along a beach path on Miami Beach, Florida's famed South Beach, July 4, 2020.  (AP)

Gelber said the measures were necessary and fought back against assertions that the limitations were an infringement on basic rights.

"There's nothing more American than sacrificing for your loved one, for a neighbor or for a stranger. And it's time that people just follow these guidelines. Wear a mask. It's not a political statement," he said.

As Florida struggled through the July 4th weekend, so did other states in the country.

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Alabama this week also set a record for infections reported in a day, with more than 1,700 new confirmed cases recorded Thursday, and state health officials worried that the holiday weekend could lead to the type of spike that followed Memorial Day weekend.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.