Alongside potentially using Nightingale hospitals, they may use plans of “mutual aid”, where they coordinate with other trusts to expand available beds.
Speaking to the publication, Matt Ashton, Liverpool director of public health, said his city is on track to reach capacity within a week.
He added cases could breach capacity for the north-west as a whole within 22 days.
Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, said several trusts are approaching peaks not seen at all this year.
