Health Secretary Sajid Javid has warned the coronavirus pandemic is “not over” and said cases could rise to 100,000 a day.
He told a Downing Street press conference hospital admissions are now approaching 1,000 per day and that deaths are “still sadly over 100 a day”.
He said: “We’ll do what it takes to make sure that this pressure doesn’t become unsustainable and that we don’t allow the NHS to become overwhelmed.”
Mr Javid added: "We've always known the winter months would pose the greatest threat to our recovery.
"Ahead of winter just as we expected we're starting to see this impact. Cases are rising and they could yet go as high as 100,000 a day.
"We're also seeing greater pressure on the NHS. Across the UK we're now approaching 1,000 hospitalisations a day.
"We'll do what it takes to make sure this pressure doesn't become unsustainable and we don't allow the NHS to become overwhelmed.
"Deaths remain mercifully low but they are still sadly over 100 a day.
"This pandemic is not over. Thanks to the vaccination programme yes the link between cases and hospitalisations and deaths has =significantly weakened but it's not broken.
"We must all remember that this virus will be with us for the long term and it remains a threat."
NHS medical director Professor Stephen Powis urged people to "get that booster as quickly as possible."
He added: "Covid is still here and we need to get those jabs when we're offered them."
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