State Senator Manny Diaz defended small business owners in South Florida, offering a swift rebuke towards Miami-Dade for their decision to shut down several businesses as a result of the spike in COVID-19 cases.

Following a rise in confirmed cases, Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced on Monday that he would be signing an executive order that would roll back reopenings in an effort to stop the spread of the virus.

The emergency order, which is set to go into effect on Wednesday, will result in several businesses across Miami-Dade closing after only weeks of being reopened. Those set to take a hit from the emergency order include restaurant dining rooms, ballrooms, banquet facilities, party venues, gyms and fitness centers, and short-term rentals.

“I am signing an emergency order that will close restaurants (except for takeout and delivery services), along with ballrooms, banquet facilities, party venues, gyms and fitness centers, and short-term rentals,” Gimenez said in his initial statement. “These closings, among others that will be included in the order, will be effective Wednesday, July 8, 2020. We want to ensure that our hospitals continue to have the staffing necessary to save lives.”

Despite no evidence or data suggesting that the current guidelines resulted in a sharp increase in cases, the move by Gimenez garnered mass media attention, with some praising his decision.

Diaz, a Republican Senator who represents Florida’s 36th District, stood against the new order, voicing his concerns on social media for small business owners who will be penalized after implementing changes and following new regulations required to reopen.

Forcing these small businesses to shut down again after they have followed all of the guidelines put forth by the county is not only unfair but will cause irrevocable harm to these families, where is the data showing that restaurants operating at 50% caused this ? 1/3 https://t.co/bTMPqKRs32

— Manny Diaz Jr. (@SenMannyDiazJr) July 6, 2020

Didn’t the county just implement an order for the wearing of masks? Now those hard working small business owners will be punished for the actions of those that acted irresponsibly by being at mass gatherings or parties ? This will have a grave effect on every one of these 2/3

— Manny Diaz Jr. (@SenMannyDiazJr) July 6, 2020

hard working families, They followed what was asked of them by the government and acted responsibly , now they may be shuttered for good? Where does it end? This not only unfair but a complete government overreach that will decimate many families in our community!

— Manny Diaz Jr. (@SenMannyDiazJr) July 6, 2020

The new order comes as Miami-Dade County reported a record 2,418 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday.

Diaz, who maintains that social distancing guidelines and mask protocols should be followed in Miami-Dade, said the move will cripple small businesses and result in many restaurants shutting their doors for good.

“I’m completely against this, and I believe it is irresponsible to do this,” Diaz said in a video posted to Instagram. “At the end of the day, it’s personal responsibility that will get us through this.”