The chancellor has set out a £1bn fund to help businesses hit by the rise in Covid cases, including the leisure and hospitality sector.
Rishi Sunak announced details of the fund, including cash grants of up to £6,000 per premises for each eligible firm. He said the government would also help certain firms with the cost of sick pay for Covid-related absences.
The chancellor also announced an extra £30m to help theatres and museums.
Sunak said the “generous” new support recognised the situation many hospitality and leisure businesses faced in the run-up to Christmas.
Many hospitality and leisure firms have been hit by a collapse in bookings and reduced footfall as a result of fears over the spread of the Omicron variant.
