Commenting on the latest Office for National Statistics and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

"We know that when the rate of community infections goes up, so do hospital admissions.

"That is why trust leaders remain vigilant as we see another increase in COVID-19 infections and more patients in hospitals on ventilators.

"Nobody wants to see another big wave which, if NHS staff have to look after a surge of patients with COVID-19 again, could put the brakes on important work being done to cut waiting lists and get us back to pre-pandemic levels of activity.

"It's vital that the NHS has the very best data available to help it plan and prepare for what might lie ahead. Even though we are a long way from how things were at the height of the pandemic, UKHSA warnings that we might face a flu wave too, earlier than usual, are concerning."