UK needs mini-furlough if Omicron hits economy, says IMF

Economic body says Britain has dealt well with Covid-19 but new variant poses a new threat

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, should be drawing up contingency plans for a mini-furlough in the event that the Omicron variant forces the government into closing parts of the economy, the International Monetary Fund has said.

In its annual health check of the UK, the IMF warned the fast-spreading mutation of the Covid-19 virus posed a fresh threat to the economy after what had been a challenging year".