Matthew Taylor, head of NHS Confederation, warned of an impending "health emergency" amid climbing Omicron cases that could continue for "several weeks to come". There were 2,370 admissions in England on Friday – an increase of 69 percent on the previous week. Admissions have more than doubled in the last week in the North East and Yorkshire NHS region, up 117 percent. COVID-19 occupancy of ICU beds has risen in tandem, climbing seven percent in England from last week, with growth focused on London and the East of the country.

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