Coronavirus poses existential threat, says hospitality industry

Chancellor expected to announce more help for businesses amid fears of hundreds of thousands of job losses

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Restaurant, pub and bar operators have said the government risks triggering hundreds of thousands of job losses and thousands of closures across Britain unless it provides urgent financial support to the catering industry after Boris Johnson advised the public to stay away from them under new coronavirus restrictions.

Sounding the alarm after the prime minister told the public to avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other social venues, business groups said the UK's hospitality sector faced an existential threat that could severely damage a significant employer and driver of economic growth.