The Key West example

In Florida, the Keys have become their own bubble. Since March 22, Monroe County, which includes the islands, has had two checkpoints at the top of the Florida Keys Overseas Highway — one at mile marker 112.5 on the 18-mile stretch of U.S. 1 and the other on County Road 905. Only people who can prove that they live or own property or work in the Keys have been allowed onto the chain of islands that is about 60 miles away from Miami.

When Key West, the seat of Monroe County, began reopening its beaches and parks on Monday for locals, people from neighboring Miami-Dade County tried to drive to the beach but were turned away at the checkpoints.

“Historically we’ve had day trippers come then leave, but Miami-Dade County is a hot spot with a lion’s share of cases, so what we’re trying to do is only allow essential services into the Keys and say that the beach is open only for locals to get out a few hours a day to get sun,” said Teri Johnston, the mayor of Key West. “Our residents want to know that we aren’t relaxing orders in a way that would bring visitors to our island until it is safe for that.”

Officials in Key West have been in conversation with business owners, realtors and the administrators of attractions like museums about a phased reopening of the city, in which everything would reopen to locals first, said Alyson Crean, a public information officer.