The city's public health director told the ECHO there is "no doubt in my mind" that the surge in new covid infections will see a rise in hospitalisations, intensive care patients and then deaths.
Professor Matt Ashton, director of public health at Liverpool Council, said the extreme transmissibility of the Omicron variant will increase pressure on hospitals despite some suggestions it is less severe.
London has seen a significant rise in hospital admissions, with the number related to covid rising around 42% week-on-week in the seven days up to December 15.
READ MORE: Rishi Sunak announces £1bn Covid bailout with £6k grants for pubs and restaurants
There have not yet been similar numbers recorded outside the capital, although infections in Liverpool have been spiking with 3,121 confirmed cases recorded in the seven days up to December 17, an increase of 806 on the previous week.
The ECHO understands there are around 90 people in Liverpool's adult hospitals with coronavirus, consistent with numbers over the previous few months and not yet demonstrating a rise in hospitalisations similar to what has been seen in London.
However some ominous signs are beginning to emerge including an increase in cases in the 60+ age category, leading to fears pressure on the Royal Liverpool and Aintree Hospitals will begin to increase in January.
Prof. Ashton told the ECHO: "What we have learned over the last two years of the pandemic is that a rise in Covid-19 cases is followed by a rise in hospital admissions, followed by intensive care cases and then, sadly, deaths.
"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is a trajectory that we will see again as a result of the sheer infectiousness of the omicron variant.
"We know that every infected person infects another three to five people, sometimes more, and that as a result case numbers in the north west are doubling every 2-3 days.
“In Liverpool we have already seen a rapid increase in our confirmed Covid-19 cases of 46% in the last week to around 3,500 - and the number of PCR tests being returned as positive is rising.
"Confirmed case numbers now are already higher than our last significant peak in October last year and may well match or exceed the highest we have seen throughout the pandemic, which was in January 2021.
“On a positive note, we do now have the vaccine programme which will significantly reduce the number of serious illnesses and deaths for those who are fully vaccinated with two doses plus the booster.
"But we need to remember that the NHS only has a finite number beds and staff.
"Plus, Covid-19 infections in the general population can also lead to large numbers of staff absence, which is why it is incumbent on us all to do what we can to make sure we play our part in reducing infections to mitigate the impact on its services."
Prof. Ashton's words come as data shows some less than half of people in some wards in Liverpool have had both initial doses of the covid vaccine, with Edge Hill the lowest in the city region at around 40%.
In the city as a whole, some 30% of residents are still yet to receive a single jab.
Dr Peter Hampshire, Clinical Director of Critical Care at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation trust which runs the Royal Liverpool, Aintree and Broadgreen hospitals, strongly urged people in Liverpool to get vaccinated.
He said: "The best way for people to protect themselves and their loved ones this Christmas is to have their Covid-19 vaccine.
"We’re still seeing incredibly sick people with Covid-19 in our hospitals. Having your vaccination is one of the most effective ways you can prevent yourself from becoming seriously ill and help ensure that the NHS is able to care for everyone this winter.
"Whilst we don’t yet know the severity of illness the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 will cause, we do know it’s incredibly infectious. Data has shown that the booster dose prevents around 75% of people becoming seriously ill. So please, book your first, second or third jab now – no-one will ask why you haven’t yet had it."
Prof. Ashton added: "Our message to people is that it is never too late to get your booster or your first or second jab.
"It is your best defence against Covid-19 alongside other measures such as avoiding crowded places, wearing a face covering in shops and on public transport.
"If you are meeting up with friends and family this festive season, protect them by taking a lateral flow test just before you go to make sure you are not infectious.
“January may well be difficult, with lots of disruption. However, if we all work together, as we have done so well over the last couple of years, we can get through it."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
