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Government scientists are said to have warned the Cabinet at a virtual meeting this morning that the NHS could be so overwhelmed by the middle of January and that even hospitals may be forced to shut their doors. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that even using “the most conservative” estimates case numbers are looking “very bad”. The PM warned that a “huge spike” of Omicron is on the way.

According to The Sun, the briefing was “bleak”.

Ministers were reportedly told that so many doctors and nurses will be off sick by January 15 that the NHS will not be able to operate.

Their assessment is that there will be too many people reliant on oxygen, even if they aren’t in intensive care, with not enough people to administer it.

This comes as Tory whips scramble to prevent a rebellion from Conservative MPs over a vote on vaccine passports this afternoon, set to be the largest rebellion of Mr Johnson’s premiership.

Around 80 Tory MPs – amounting to more than a third of the party’s backbenchers – have indicated their intention to rebel, meaning Mr Johnson faces a revolt that could eclipse his largest so far, when 54 Conservatives voted against the tiered system of restrictions last December.

The plan is expected to pass despite the Tory backlash, because Labour has said it will support it.

As it currently stands, just ten people are in hospital with the Omicron variant.

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