It’s considered an American college student’s right of passage. A week of fun-filled days spent in the warm Florida sun.
A year ago, images of young people ignoring public health guidelines went viral, but eventually like so much of the world, spring break was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The students went home, the tourism and crowds mostly ceased.
This year, even though the virus remains a serious problem across the country, spring breakers have returned to the Sunshine State.
Andrew Cohen is the co-founder of Staying Afloat Party Boat, a rental company that caters to spring breakers. “It’s paradise here. Spring break is in full effect,” he said from Fort Lauderdale, a popular tourist destination.
Mr Cohen said business is not just booming – its the best it has ever been.
“Record breaking – everything is through the roof. We’re a relatively new company, three years-old, and we’ve been trying to grow pretty aggressively. So we’ve added boats and even scaled up boat for boat. It’s just through-the-roof sales,” he said.
South of Fort Lauderdale, in Miami, the tourists are back as well.
“It’s a typical spring break time; it's not any different than any other year,” said Traci Elizabeth Holstein.
Ms Holstein lives in Miami Beach, one of the most popular destinations for college students looking to enjoy their holiday.
Images from the weekend show large crowds gathered on the beaches and in the streets.
“I’m concerned for people’s health,” said Ms Holstein. “My main message is I just wish people would be patient and wait another year.”
She’s not alone.
Although Covid-19 cases in Florida are going down, the state is still experiencing about 4,000 new cases a week.
To date, more than 32,000 people have died in Florida from the virus, behind only New York, California and Texas.
“We’re doing better, but I don’t want to say we’re in a great situation where it’s time to relax because we’re really not there,” said Dr Cindy Prins, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
An influx of young people from across the country could not only set the state back but also the nation as it fights to get cases down and vaccinations up.
"There's a worry about people getting infected and bringing it back to where they live, to other states and then seeding it there," Dr Prins told The National.
With the UK variant already present in the state, Dr Prins is concerned spring breakers could bring even more variants into Florida.
“When you have a lot of people getting together and if there are one or two people that are already carrying those variants, that's a great way for those to be spread around further.”
Florida currently has no state-wide travel restrictions or mask requirements.
"We like the fact that people are able to work here. We like the fact that we have been able to save thousands, thousands of businesses and save people's livelihoods,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
The state’s lack of strict restrictions has made some Floridians angry, especially with all the extra tourists flocking the area.
“Governor DeSantis has not made the smart decision for anybody and pretty much has put the onus on the population itself to make the decisions and people don’t make smart decisions," said Samantha Moore of Palmetto Bay, Florida.
“It’s tough. I wish there was somebody who was taking a strong stand for the people who live here and don’t have to increase our risk.”
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
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Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
