A second person who attended a now infamous Miami Beach festival has died of contracting the coronavirus.

Several other party-goers have reported that they are suffering from flu-like symptoms, reiterating the importance of social distancing during the pandemic.

Ron Rich, described as a 'loyal volunteer' for The National LGBTQ Task Force, passed away over the weekend after attending the LGBTQ festival in March.

The National LGBTQ Task Force in Miami pays tribute to Ron Rich, who sadly passed away on Friday and became the second person to die after attending a Miami festival

The LGBTQ Winter Party Festival in Miami Beach occurred over a week before any federal restrictions were put on gatherings

In a Facebook post in which the the Task Force announced the death of Rich, he was described as a 'familiar face to the guests who attended the Task Force Gala, Winter Party Festival and our Fort Lauderdale house parties over the past five years as his big smile and warmth had him mostly serving on our hospitality team.

'Ron also volunteered with the Outshine Film Festival and Lambda Legal,' the post said. 'He will be missed. We extend our condolences to his family and friends.'

A friend of Rich, Vin Kruger, who described him as his best friend and 'security blanket' said: '"They’re putting me on a ventilator" was the last thing he wrote me, and that was Friday morning.'

The Winter Party Festival in South Beach, an LGBTQ festival that took place in early March, has now been linked to two deaths and a number of cases.

The week-long 'circuit party' which was held at multiple locations throughout the city, including the beach, from 4 March - 10 March is feared to have spread the virus further at a time when events had yet to be cancelled and social gatherings weren't restricted.

Since the festival, other scenes at Miami beaches showing college age spring-breakers have been captured, increasing fears that people who went to Miami for such events have spread the virus across the country after heading home.

Measures have now been brought in to restrict such gatherings in Miami and other states in the U.S.

Multiple party goers have reported that they are experiencing flu-like symptoms after attending the festival, that ran from the 4 March - 10 March

Miami Beach is now empty after measures have been taken to limit social gatherings, but these beaches were full of people mere weeks ago for festivals and spring break, potentially spreading the virus further with busy crowds

'Safer at home' measures have been put in place in Miami, in-line with a number of other states as the U.S. tries to limit the spread of the coronavirus

One person, a 35-year-old Seattle resident, spoke anonymously to the Miami Herald, said that four of his friends also attended positive after they attended the festival.

'I think given the atmosphere and the parties, and people packed in as tight as they were, I think it’s bound to be more,' he said. 'Nobody was talking about it, nobody was concerned about it because nobody had it.'

Spring breakers could be seen lining the beaches in Miami as recently as the 18 March. People have been criticized for still gathering like this and not taking the threat seriously enough

When this photo was taken, states across the U.S. were beginning to implement measures to enforce social distancing, shutting down public places such as bars and restaurants

Since these images circulated, Police have been forced to close the beaches to stop people from gathering in large crowds

Organizers of the festival have faced criticism for allowing an event to go ahead during a global pandemic. However, the federal government was yet to place restrictions on large gatherings.

A top health official for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, said publicly that she wouldn't make broad pronouncements about cancelling large gatherings.

'Decisions, for example, in Seattle may look quite different than the decisions being made in a location right now where there is not community spread,' she said.

On Tuesday 31 March, Governor Ron DeSantis said that he had no plans to issue a Florida-wide stay-at-home order, partly due to the fact that the White House task force has not told them to do so.

However, more than 30 states and Washington DC have issues such an order.

View of an empty beach in South Beach, Miami early Tuesday morning as people stay at home in accordance with measures to limit interaction between groups of people

A man cleans the entrance to a closed restaurant on Ocean Drive, Miami. Americans have been told to brace for 'very painful' weeks ahead as more people die from the coronavirus

Rich becomes the second person to have died after attending the party. Isreal Carrera, 40, died last Thursday, also attended the party and developed symptoms of the coronavirus.

He was described as energetic and had adopted a healthy lifestyle while living in Miami, making his death more surprised for those who knew him.

His boyfriend, Franco Consquista, described how they had both attended the Winter Party Festival in South Beach, the same one that Rich attended earlier in March.

Within two or three days they were both experiencing symptoms, and Carrera went to the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach after he found it difficult to breathe.

'It’s just not fair,' Consquista said. 'It’s just not fair to die like this. He was so charming and kind. His energy was incredible.'

A free COVID-19 drive-through testing site in Hialeah will open tomorrow (Thursday) at Amelia Earhart Park.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo told the Miami Herald that the site will open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offer about 200 tests. Appointments are required and patients are required to be in their cars, with a maximum of two people per appointment.

The 31 March was the most deadly day so far in the U.S. during the coronavirus crisis, with 719 people succumbing to the illness, bringing the total close to 4,000