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Oakdale Ready To Open Weekly Farmer’s Market
oak FM
This was the scene for Opening Night of the Oakdale Farmer’s Market in 2019, as people gathered to check out the fresh produce and hand-crafted goods. The crowds likely won’t be as big to start this year due to the ongoing restrictions associated with the coronavirus pandemic but the market opens for business on May 20, from 5 pm. to 8 p.m. Leader File Photo

While California may be loosening restrictions on businesses, there are still many that will have to wait a while longer to get back to a somewhat ‘normal’ routine.

There are signs, however, of progress and one of those is the return of the weekly Oakdale Farmer’s Market. The Wednesday night market returns on May 20 and will be open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on North Third Avenue, between E and F streets.

Residents may be seeing more people in local businesses that, under the beginning stages of Phase 2 in the state recovery plan, are able to open their doors once again.

“Currently, the City of Oakdale is governed by Governor Newsom’s Stay-At-Home order,” pointed out Oakdale City Manager Bryan Whitemyer. “If the City receives a complaint that a business is operating outside the Governor’s order the City will ask Code Enforcement to assess the situation. If they find that the business is operating outside the Governor’s order they will provide information to that business in an effort to educate them about the order.”

Businesses looking to reopen must adhere to a variety of social distancing protocols and place additional emphasis on safety for both vendor and customer.

The return of the weekly market should be a good testing ground.

“The Farmer’s Market was approved using COVID-19 guidelines that were also used to open the Modesto Farmer’s Market,” noted Whitemyer.

Meanwhile, the latest figures from the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency show that, as of late afternoon Monday, May 18 Stanislaus County was at 587 positive cases for the coronavirus and had recorded 26 COVID-19 related deaths. There have been 438 recovered cases and 8986 negative tests for Stanislaus County as well.

“Stanislaus County Health Services Agency testing numbers include those reported through the State infectious disease reporting system,” county officials noted on the health agency’s website. “The numbers do not necessarily include those routed through a commercial laboratory. All positive cases must be reported to Public Health.”

Officials also advise residents to call (209) 558-7535 or visit: www.StanEmergency.com for additional information.

Stanislaus County also has released information on a new plan, Good 2 Go Stanislaus, which provides recommendations on how to safely reopen businesses and services during the next phases of the county’s recovery process.

The Good 2 Go plan provides links to State guidance and offers County ‘best practices’ for sectors with no State guidance.

Stanislaus County, the same as the City of Oakdale, is no longer issuing the local stay-at-home orders, deferring instead to the order of the State of California Public Health Officer.

“The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency will continue to offer guidance and directives for Long-Term Care Facilities, Food Prep Facilities, as well as Isolation and Quarantine guidance for the general public,” officials said. “Local resources will continue to be shared via our website at: http://stanemergency.com as well as our social media networks.”

For the latest statewide COVID-19 updates, visit the California Department of Public Health at: http://covid19.ca.gov.