Commissioner Eileen Higgins activates the District 5 Rapid Response Team to address surge of COVID-19 positive cases in Little Havana

MIAMI-DADE – Tomorrow, June 27, 2020, from 10:00 am to noon, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, District 5, will be joined by State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez, community organizations, and friends of Little Havana, at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium, 2901 W Flagler St., Miami, FL 33135, to activate a District 5 Rapid Response Team to address the surge of COVID-19 cases in the Little Havana neighborhood including zip codes 33128 and 33125.

The District 5 Rapid Response Team, which is made up of District 5 staff, volunteers from local community organizations and also residents, will canvass the zip codes recently experiencing a high number of positive COVID-19 cases to share information with residents on how to take the proper precautions to protect themselves and others and prevent further spread. The Rapid Response Team will continue to use census tracts to hone into hot spots in zip codes 33128 and 33125, particularly given that the data is clear that lower income communities are at higher risk of infection and severe outcomes.

“As reported in the news, the data shows that COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the County, and unfortunately parts of my district are growing hot spots,” said Commissioner Higgins. “I have identified eight census tracts in Little Havana with the largest number of new cases in order to target several square block areas. Thanks to a network of volunteers who love their neighbors and Little Havana, the Rapid Response Team will reach 2,000 homes this weekend. We need people living in these areas to be aware that their immediate neighborhood is a hotspot. To protect themselves and others, they will need to wear masks, avoid large gatherings, and know how to get tested if they feel ill.”

MEDIA AVAILABILTY The media is invited to join the activation of the District 5 Rapid Response Team at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium, 2901 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33135, tomorrow, June 27, 2020 at 11:30 am. Commissioner Higgins and Senator Rodriguez will then canvass a nearby block, as the neighborhood surrounding the Auditorium is one of the identified hotspots. For more information, please contact Maggie Fernandez, Chief of Staff, at 786-251-7380 or [email protected].