Miami-Beach-Launches-Race-to-Trace
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 PRESS RELEASE
Tonya Daniels, E-mail: tonyadaniels@miamibeachfl.gov
Melissa Berthier, E-mail: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2020
Miami Beach Launches Race to Trace
— The initiative is aimed at providing accelerated COVID-19 contact tracing and health
expertise for Miami Beach hospitality and tourism businesses —
Miami Beach, FL – The City of Miami Beach today announced the launch of Race to Trace, a
new program intended to provide focused COVID-19 contact tracing and other health
resources to Miami Beach hotels, restaurants as well as cultural venues. Funded under a grant
from The Rockefeller Foundation, the program will provide businesses with a dedicated strike
team of seasoned contact tracers from the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Miami-Dade
County to keep employees and patrons safe.
“Our hospitality industry has gamely addressed these challenges but needs tools better suited
to its unique profile,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber explained. “This partnership will elevate
our contact tracing efforts to give us the best opportunity to cabin this virus and provide a safer
environment for our guests and workers.”
Starting this week, Race to Trace teams will proactively reach out to target businesses citywide
to establish relationships — aiming to alleviate the burden that business owners and managers
face by quickly responding to COVID-19 issues as they arise.
“The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade is looking forward to working with The
Rockefeller Foundation and the City of Miami Beach in this innovative, multidimensional
approach to combating COVID-19 in our community while preserving our economy, hospitality
industry and protecting our public health,” shared Administrator/Health Officer Dr. Yesenia
Villalta of DOH-Miami-Dade County.
The Rockefeller Foundation awarded grants to the City of Miami Beach and Florida
Department of Health (FDOH) to further the goals of its National COVID-19 Testing & Tracing
Action Plan. The Plan supports reopening the economy through a combination of effective
testing, contact tracing and strengthening of data platforms and public education campaigns to
better track and monitor the spread of the disease.
“A strong contact tracing program is a critical component to suppressing an outbreak,
especially where people come and go, and ensuring that the trail of infections stops quickly,”
said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “We are proud to support the
efforts of Mayor Gelber and the Florida Department of Health to protect the hard-working
women and men who are the backbone of Miami Beach’s dynamic tourism and hospitality
industry, alongside the millions of visitors to the region, through this innovative contact tracing
and public education program.”
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.
Miami Beach businesses will be invited to further demonstrate their commitment to following
COVID-19 best practices by participating in the city’s Pledge to Protect initiative which will be
rolled out later this month.
For more information, visit www.Race2Trace.com.
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