Chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to announce new financial support measures for businesses in England.
Sunak is expected to reveal his plans on Friday (9 October) for the next stage of the Job Support Scheme, which is due to replace the furlough scheme from next month.
The Treasury said Sunak’s latest financial plans would “protect jobs and provide a safety net for those businesses that may have to close in the coming weeks and months”.
Speculation is mounting that this could include a "local furlough" scheme for areas that face tighter restrictions in the next few weeks.
The government is due to announce a series of measures on Monday (12 October) which could see many hospitality businesses in some areas of England forced to close again due to rising Covid-19 cases.
Scotland is already due to implement tighter rules on pubs and restaurants from 6pm on Friday (9 October), such as their closure in central Scotland, which includes Glasgow and Edinburgh, for 16 days.