'Essential' farmers' markets free of coronavirus crowd bans, Health Department confirms

Farmers' markets around Australia have official clearance to go ahead this weekend - and are preparing for a potential onslaught after unprecedented panic buying and hoarding at supermarkets. Key points: Farmers' markets have been ruled "essential" by the Federal Government Stallholders have been given food-handling instructions Increased efforts will be made to maximise public safety On Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said strict new bans on large gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19 did not apply to supermarkets, food markets, grocery shops, retail outlets and shopping centres. Their founder, farmer Mick Dan, expressed his relief at the Health Department's clarification after Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson encouraged people to consider attendance at markets "in terms of the numbers that would attend". "Farmers' markets are obviously vitally important as a link in Australia's food chain and more so now than ever before, considering the shortages at supermarkets," Ms Adams said. "More than ever at the moment, I think it's vitally important that farmers' markets trade within the guidelines that are being prescribed to maintain our public health system," Ms Adams said.