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UK makes changes to dining options due to COVID-19

Posted at 6:24 PM, Nov 27, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-27 18:26:54-05

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The University of Kentucky has made many changes to their campus in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. Those changes include bringing in alternative dining options for students and staff.

When planning for students to come back to campus, University of Kentucky dining had two key priorities for the new normal: how to keep their community safe and how to continue to serve great dining options.

"We have social distancing stickers all over the place, as you can see. Masks are mandatory in dining. Our seating has been significantly reduced, there's no self service offerings here," Pulkit Vigt, Resident District Manager of UK Dining, said.

While following the CDC guidelines, UK dining has served 700,000 meals, with 5,000 on average a day. That wouldn't have been possible without the new buildings on campus.

"I think the more space we have, the better it is. Plus, we have 32 locations on campus and we kept every one of them open to make sure people don't congregate," Vigt added.

And that's brought in other dining options to campus, one of those being a food truck called Nathan's Taquiera.

"We started receiving 200+ students every day. Our business has been growing since that invitation," Nathan's Taquiera Owner Norbrto Mata said.

Vigt says UK Dining is ready and able to open for the spring semester and will be capable of making changes if necessary.