A 'test and dine' scheme has been proposed in Birmingham, which would aim to help the hospitality sector recover from the effect of the pandemic.
The scheme was suggested by the council and would mean that people going out for meals would be tested for Covid-19 a few hours before.
The city is currently under Tier 3 restrictions - the highest and strictest level - meaning that hospitality businesses aren't allowed to open for people to dine in.
Plans are still at a very early stage and any such scheme would need to be approved by the government before it could become a reality.
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Speaking to a regional Covid-19 briefing on Friday, Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward said the idea was being discussed at a local level, reports the BBC.
Mr Ward said: "We would pilot it initially with a very small number of restaurants. If it worked we would look to expand that going forward.
"If people book a seat at one of those restaurants to eat out, we would allow them to be tested, and provided they tested negative and the booking was within six hours of that test, then they would be able to go and dine at that particular restaurant."
Mike Olley, leader of the Westside Business Improvement District, said that any scheme that can help to pull the city's hospitality industry away from financial trouble would be welcomed.
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He said: "I don't doubt the sincerity of the council. It's a plan, it's something. At least they're thinking outside of the box."
But he did question how the scheme would work practically, whether already-struggling bars and restaurants would have to pay for the tests, and how they would apply to take part if it the plan were to go ahead.
He said Tier 3 restrictions have been 'devastating' for the local hospitality industry.
Mr Olley added: "We've got bars, restaurants, casinos, theatres which are all incredibly safe areas and they're not trading, yet they're still having to pay out massive overheads."
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Although the council agreed a scheme based on testing customers could help business to carry on, no details of whether or how it would go ahead have been made clear so far.
The government's Tier 3 restrictions state that 'hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha bars), pubs, cafes, restaurants, and social clubs must close except for takeaway, delivery and click and collect services'.
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Topics: UK News, Coronavirus