Duck Key, Fla. – US 1 has traffic from Miami-Dade County to Duck Key, a seaside community in Monroe County. Tourists flocked there during the coronavirus pandemic.

The island is home to the Hawks Cay ResortThe hotel has hotel rooms and villas, half a mile from Duck Key Marina in the central Florida Keys.

From diving to fishing, there is plenty to do outdoors. The remote resort’s amenities include five pools and an ocean-fed saltwater lagoon porpoise.

“Now we are seeing numbers exceeding 2019 numbers,” Sheldon Suga said of the tourists flocking to the resort.

Suga is the resort’s vice president, regional managing director. He said the surge started in January. This week the property was more than 80% full.

Hawks Cay Resort Guests said protecting the COVID-19 vaccine is a great motivator for travel. Carolyn Peters of Ohio said she and her husband are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.

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“This is our first trip since the pandemic,” said Peters.

Suga said he was having trouble finding workers.

“That’s across the state,” Suga said of the shortage of staff in the hospitality industry. “Lots of people left the industry to find work when we went down in March.”

Runners race on the Seven Miles Bridge in Monroe County. The event was canceled last year due to the pandemic. (Copyright 2020 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.)

There are signs that Monroe County is gradually recovering. The authorities allow the 40th year Seven Mile Bridge Run at 6:45 am on Saturday. The annual race of the Marathon Runners Club brings in donations for youth activities.

The pandemic led to the event being canceled last year. Registration is usually limited to around 1,500 participants. This year there will be fewer attendees to allow social distancing and runners will have to wear face masks.

“As soon as you start, you can drop your mask,” said Ginger Sayer, the director of the event.

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The traditional post-race party was canceled to avoid a crowd that could spread the coronavirus. Sayer said they can’t encourage race participants to gather.

“We won’t have a guitar playing. We will not give away any beer. Hopefully next year things will get better and back to normal, ”said Sayer.

Monroe County’s officials acknowledge compliance with the use of face masks to keep COVID-19 cases low. According to official figures, around 40% of residents have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

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Related social media

Visitors we spoke to said the nation # COVID-19 Advances in the introduction of vaccines to support travel plans. Take the Peters from Ohio, who are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary. This is her FIRST trip since the pandemic began. He’s fully vaccinated and she got her first shot. pic.twitter.com/BvI8N99yLd

– Christina Vazquez (@CBoomerVazquez) April 15, 2021

Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.

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