Lynn Minges, president and CEO of the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association, said restaurants statewide will step up and follow the latest restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus.
WILL BE THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME OF YEAR FOR THIS PANDEMIC. THANK YOU. >>> STRONG WORDS FROM THAT BUSINESS OWNER. JOINING US NOW VIA ZOOM IS LYNN MINGES, PRESIDENT AND CE OFF THE NORTH CAROLINA RESTAURANT AND LODGING ASSOCIATION. LYNN, GREAT TO SEE YOU. YOUR REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S NEW ORDER AND DID HE CONSULT WITH YOU BEFORE IMPLEMENTING IT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT AN YOUR VIEWERS. YES, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH GOVERNOR COOPER AND WITH DR. MANDY COHEN AND HER TEAM AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM EVERY DAY AS OUR INDUSTRY IS ONE MOST REGULATED INDUSTRIES IN OUR STATE. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM ON AN ONGOING BASIS. PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT NOW FOR OUR BUSINESSES FOR RESTAURANTS AN HOTELS. WAVE BEEN TALKING WITH THEM ON A DAILY BASIS OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. AND I HAVE CONSULTED WITH THEM THIS WEEK IN PREPARATION FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CAME TODAY. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TIMING. WE ARE LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAY FROM CHRISTMAS AT THIS POINT. HOW CHALLENGING DO YOU SEE THIS BEING FOR RESTAURANTS HAVING TO STOP SERVING ALCOHOL AT 9:00 AND CLOSE AT 10:00 WHEN WE KNOW SO MANY FAMILIES GO TO RESTAURANTS PARTICULARLY AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR. >> THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN AWFUL FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. WE'VE TAKEN THE BRUNT IN RESTAURANTS AN HOTELS ACROSS THE STATE. WE DO APPRECIATE GOVERNOR COOPER'S MEASURED APPROACH TO THIS. WE'VE WATCHED AS OTHER CITIES AN STATES ACROSS THE NATION HAVE ROLLED BACK, CLOSED DOWN ANDREWSED CAPACITY. WE ARE THANKFUL WE ARE NOT HAVING TO TAKE THOSE EXTREME MEASURES HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA I'M 10:00 CURFEW, WHILE NOT THE BEST NEWS WE'VE HAD TODAY, IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE'LL LEARN TO LIVE WITH AND ADAPT. I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE RESILIENCY OF OUR INDUSTRY WITH THE WAY FOLKS HAVE ADJUSTED. WE MAY HAVE TO OPEN EARLIER TO SEAT GUESTS WHO WANT TO DINE WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DURING THE HOLMBERG WE'RE WILLING TO STEP UP AND DO WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP BUSINESSES OPEN. WE'VE COME TOO FAR TO TURN BACK NOW. WE PLEAD WITH VIEWERS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND OPERATORS, LET'S STEP UP AND DO WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL ARE ASKING US TO DO. LET'S WEAR A MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCE AND ABIDE BIT 10:00 CURFEW. WE CAN GET THROUGH THEM THE VACCINE IS IN SIGHT AND WE'RE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES SO WE CAN KEEP OUR BUSINESSES OPEN AND OUR EMPLOYEES WORKING. >> JUST A YES OR NO QUESTION, YOU AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER THEN? >> WE DO. I MEAN HE HAS HAD TO MAKE SOME RAILROAD TOUGH DECISIONS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT HE WOULD LIKE OR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS. IT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET THROUGH THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. WE ARE STEPPING UP AND DOING WHAT IS BEING ASKED OF US SINCE
