Farmers Market at Lake Eola to reopen
After an eight-month hiatus, Orlando’s popular Farmers Market at Lake Eola will reopen Sunday.
“I know a lot of people have been asking me about that and have missed the market,” Mayor Buddy Dyer said Monday.
The market, which allows licensed vendors to sell produce, crafts and food, closed March 15 because of the pandemic.
Dyer said the market will operate a little differently with COVID-19 still a concern in Orange County where the 14-day positivity rate was 5.3% Monday, about the same as a week ago. The rate is figured by dividing new infections by the number of daily tests.
The World Health Organization considers a region to have the virus under control when its rate is 5% or lower.
The market, which opened in 1987, often drew hundreds of patrons to browse produce and crafts.
Sunday will be smaller than usual with vendor booths limited to 35 rather than 50. Vendors will be socially distanced with at least 6 feet between booths.
Dyer said vendors and patrons
will be required to wear face coverings and hand sanitizer will be available at all booths.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 45% of infections occur
without symptoms.
Facial coverings are considered effective protection because health research shows person-to-person close contact is the dominant mode of transmission as in-
fected people expel droplets carrying virus particles when they speak, sing, shout, sneeze or just breathe normally.