SOUTHEND’S council leader has empathised with the ‘difficult balancing’ job faced by Boris Johnson as he considered further Covid restrictions.

At a Cabinet meeting yesterday, the Prime Minister was said to have been considering implement further restrictions on socialising, including a ban on indoor socialising, higher education moving online, and indoor entertainment closing, according to The Mirror.

Mr Johnson did not confirm these reports but he did say his government would reserve the “possibility of taking further action” to protect public health due to the spread of the Omicron variant.

Southend’s council leader Ian Gilbert said: “While I am sure there are many things I could criticise the Government for, we recognise that it is a really difficult balance to make between people who want to see their loved ones at Christmas who didn’t get the opportunity to see them last year and keeping people safe.”

“What I hope is that, if there are additional restrictions, that is done in a planned and responsible way.”

The Labour councillor added the borough’s services were struggling to cope with the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant.

“There is currently extraordinary pressure on our adult social care system as indeed there is on the NHS,” he said.

“We are managing that and have sought to internally redistribute resources but there is no doubt that the whole system is under a great deal of pressure at the moment.

“As with the earlier waves its affecting everything that the council is doing and we’re working really closely with the NHS and focusing on supporting the expanded booster program.”