MFDS: "Only Takeout Available for All Menus to Minimize Rest Area Usage Time" (Update)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Director Lee Ui-kyung) and Korea Expressway Corporation (President Kim Jin-sook) announced on the 22nd that they expect an increase in users at highway rest areas during the Chuseok holiday and will intensify quarantine management to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections through rest areas.

This quarantine management plan will be applied on a trial basis at rest areas until the 28th, and then fully implemented at all highway rest areas nationwide from the 29th, the start of the main holiday period, through October 4th.

First, to disperse the number of people using rest areas, congestion information will be provided through advance display on Variable Message Signs (VMS) located 15 to 25 km before the rest area entrances.

To minimize the time spent at rest areas, all menus will be composed mainly of simple meals available for takeout only, restricting indoor consumption. Additionally, approximately 706 temporary restrooms will be added, and paper towels will be provided inside the restrooms.

To strengthen compliance with quarantine rules among rest area users, quarantine management officers will be designated, and about 1,000 additional quarantine guidance personnel will be deployed. The expanded personnel will carry out tasks such as ▲maintaining a 2-meter distance between rest area users ▲prohibiting entry without masks ▲checking for fever symptoms ▲managing visitor logs through simple phone check-ins and QR code check-ins.

Disinfection of facilities frequently touched by many users, such as unmanned automatic ordering systems (kiosks) and entrance door handles, will be increased from once daily to multiple times a day, and indoor ventilation will be conducted every hour instead of every two hours.

Lee Ui-kyung, Director of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, said, “We ask highway rest area users to strictly follow quarantine rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19 cluster infections, including wearing masks, maintaining a 2-meter distance between users, washing hands before and after using facilities, and not staying inside facilities for extended periods.”