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There are additional emergency measures impacting nighttime restaurant operations, including sidewalk cafes.

The city is encouraging all businesses within what they've deemed a \"high-impact zone\" to close during this period and is urging hotel guests to stay off the streets after 8 p.m.

\"This was not an easy decision to make,\" interim City Manager Raul Aguila told reporters at the briefing. \"We are doing that to protect the public health and safety.\"

“Most of you saw, if not covered, the crowds last night in the entertainment district numbering into the thousands,\" he added. \"As we hit the peak of the peak of spring break, we are quite simply overwhelmed in the entertainment district.\"

\"PHOTO:
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
PHOTO: People enjoy themselves as they walk along Ocean Drive on March 18, 2021 in Miami Beach, Fla.
>

Friday night along Ocean Drive in particular was \"quite simply overwhelming,\" he said.

\"It looked like a rock concert,\" Aguila said. \"You couldn't see pavement and you couldn't see grass.\"

The mayor said this season's spring break has attracted more visitors than in previous years, as access to other destinations may be limited due to COVID-19 restrictions.

\"People tend to come to the place that is open,\" Gelber said.

At least twice in the past week, Miami Beach police officers resorted to using pepper balls to disperse crowds near Ocean Drive. Two police officers were injured last weekend while taking a suspect into custody, the department said.

\"We've done everything we can to try and mitigate the behavior that we are seeing, but quite frankly, I am concerned that the behavior is getting to be a little bit more for us to be able to handle,\" Miami Beach Police Chief Rick Clements said during the briefing.

Clements said there was one incident Thursday night in which property was destroyed as hundreds of people dispersed. On Friday night there were three such incidents, resulting in injuries, he said.

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A post shared by Clevelander South Beach (@clevelandersobe)

Some businesses have opted to close during the spring break season. On Friday, the Clevelander in South Beach, a famous city hotspot, announced it will cease its food and beverage operations through at least Wednesday.

\"Recently, we have grown increasingly concerned with the safety of our dedicated employees and valued customers and the ability of the City to maintain a safe environment in the surrounding area,\" the management team said in an Instagram post.

ABC News' Victoria Arancio and Joshua Hoyos contributed to this report.

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