The man in charge of handling the coronavirus pandemic in Southend is calling for caution ahead of the easing of lockdown. Southend Council's director of health, Krishna Ramkhelawon, says close contact with others still carries a risk of spreading the virus and wants people in the borough to take it steady next week. From Monday, hugging and close contact will be permitted again, while households will also be allowed to mix indoors for the first time since mid- December. Other changes to the rules will mean restaurants and pubs can serve customers inside, while enterainment and leisure facilities can also reopen.