Hospital patients could be moved to hotels in the coming weeks to alleviate pressure on the NHS which is struggling to cope with the coronavirus crisis.
In Merseyside in the last week alone there has been a further 50% increase in the number of Covid hospitalisations.
The stark statistic was revealed by NHS boss Simon Stevens as he spoke to MPs.
He said: "We have more than 30,000 severely ill coronavirus patients in hospitals across England, up by 13,000 just since Christmas Day.
"In London, one in 30 people has the virus and in parts of London it may be twice that number.
"And if you look across other regions in England, the issue is that coronavirus is once again on the rise.
"In Merseyside for example, in just the last week there has been a 50% increase in the number of covid hospitalisations.
"So this is a very serious moment for the country and the National Health Service."
Today Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the NHS is considering plans to move some patients into hotels to ease pressure on hospitals.
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Mr Hancock told Sky News: "There are huge pressures on the NHS and we are looking to all different ways that we can relieve those pressures.
"We would only ever do that if it was clinically the right thing for somebody. In some cases, people need sit-down care, they don't actually need to be in hospital bed.
"It isn't a concrete proposal by any means but it is something that we look at as we look at all contingencies."
