A health boss has said that a quarter of people being admitted to hospital with coronavirus are under 55.
Sir Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, said the virus is 'is spreading out of control' in 'many' areas of the country.
Statistics showed that a 26-year-old, with no underlying health conditions, died in the past 24 hours after contracting the virus.
Older people are more at risk from the virus, but scientists say more younger people have been hospitalised now than in the first wave.
Sir Simon told the House of Commons' Public Accounts Committee: "In London perhaps one in 30 people has the coronavirus, in parts of London it may be twice that number.
"If you look across other regions of England the issue is that coronavirus is once again on the rise.
"In Merseyside in just the last week there has been a further 50 per cent increase in the number of Covid hospitalisations.
"So this is a very serious moment for the country and for the National Health Service.
"It’s worth remembering that this affects all ages – a quarter of the Covid admissions to hospital right now are for people aged under 55."
It comes as the NHS is treating a record high number of patients suffering from the virus, with more than 32,000 people in English hospitals.
The figure marks a rise of 20 per cent from last week, and a rise of 81 per cent since Christmas Day.
