Omicron could be restaurant killer without more relief

The Omicron wave of COVID-19 wiped out business by more than half at many of the nation's restaurants in December, which is typically the most lucrative month of the year, according to an industry survey. 

The poll shows that nearly 60% of eateries reported seeing some of the steepest declines in revenue thus far during the nearly three-year-long pandemic. The December data highlight how worn out many restaurant owners are, as this winter's wave of the highly contagious COVID-19 variant has extended and exacerbated their struggles to safely do business and turn a profit throughout the pandemic. 

Aid from the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund, part of the Biden administration's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, did not extend far enough to help every eatery operator that needed assistance. A large majority of establishments that came up empty say they are in danger of closing permanently if they don't see federal relief soon.