WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is offering to help restaurants pay for delivery costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier Brian Pallister says the province is giving $5 million to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce to design a rebate plan.

The rebate is meant to help restaurants cover the cost of delivering food themselves or through a third-party service such as Skip The Dishes.

Restaurants across the province are not allowed to offer dine-in services under current public health orders.

Pallister is leaving the door open to more aid if restrictions are extended beyond the Jan. 8 expiry date.

Manitoba's daily count of new COVID-19 cases has started to drop in recent days, but intensive care units are still running above their normal capacity.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2020.

The Canadian Press