A spokesman for the NHS said that while staff were going "the extra mile," hospitals in London were coming under significant pressure from high COVID-19 infection rates.
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He added: "The NHS in London is opening more beds in NHS hospitals across the capital to care for the most unwell patients. It is crucial that people do everything they can to reduce transmission of the virus.
"In anticipation of pressures rising from the spread of the new variant infection, NHS London was asked to ensure the London Nightingale was reactivated and ready to admit patients as needed, and that process is under way."
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Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the military was standing by to staff Nightingale hospitals if the NHS exceeded its capacity of critical care beds.
Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Wallace said: "Of course we stand ready to help with Nightingales if the critical pressures go beyond the capacity of the existing NHS.
"We are on, I think, 17,000 ventilator beds currently being used, of a capacity of 21,000.
"If it starts to tip over there, then of course you'll see those Nightingales being more active and, yes, we have a number of medical staff."
He said the Army currently had 5,000 personnel deployed in the COVID-19 response.
Trusts across the country all continue to face pressure, with COVID patient numbers in England having surpassed the April first-wave peak.
And people have been urged to ring in the New Year by staying at home and not mixing. NHS England's national medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, warned: "COVID loves a crowd."
The UK will cut ties with the European Union at 11pm - almost a year after officially leaving the 27-nation bloc.
The trade deal agreed between Boris Johnson and EU chiefs avoids the need for import taxes - tariffs - which many businesses had feared.
But there will still be major changes to rules on travel, immigration, commerce, living and working abroad - as well as crime fighting and security.
Haulage firms remain concerned about hold-ups at ports.
Fears of giant tailbacks of lorries at Dover - in the event of a no-deal exit from the EU single market and customs union - have receded, but uncertainty remains about new customs rules.
Anyone from the UK who wants to stay in most of the EU for more than 90 days in any 180-day period will need a visa
Duty-free shopping will return, with people coming back to the UK from the EU able to bring up to 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of wine, four litres of spirits and 200 cigarettes without paying tax
EU citizens wanting to move to the UK (except those from the Irish Republic) will face the same points-based system as people elsewhere in the world
Traders in England, Scotland and Wales will have to complete more paperwork when dealing with EU countries
Unlike the rest of the UK, Northern Ireland will continue to follow many of the EU's rules, as its border with the Irish Republic remains all but invisible.
And the UK will gradually be able to keep more of the fish caught in its own waters, while the European Court of Justice will cease to have any role in deciding disputes between the UK and EU.
If you are Boris Johnson this is huge, and exciting.
If you are a business that's affected it might mean a big new opportunity, but it might also mean really big disruption and lots of extra hassle.
The fact that there is a trade deal doesn't take all of the risk away.
The treaty contains lots of uncertainty, not least for the biggest part of the economy: the service sector. Getting the agreement finalised in the time was a big achievement for both sides but there is a lot that it just doesn't cover that will, in time, have to be worked out somehow.
The free trade deal - agreed on Christmas Eve after nine months of negotiations - finally passed into UK law early on Thursday morning - having also been backed by Brussels.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "The destiny of this great country now resides firmly in our hands."
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But opponents say the country will still be worse off than it was while in the EU - and there is still uncertainty about what it will happen to banking and services, which are a major part of the UK economy.
The EU (Future Relationship) Bill, bringing the trade deal into UK law, was backed in the House of Commons by 521 to 73 votes on Wednesday, after Parliament was recalled from its Christmas break.
Labour supported it, with leader Sir Keir Starmer saying it was preferable to the UK severing ties with the EU without a trade deal, but other opposition parties voted against it.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel signed the deal on Wednesday.
Head teachers, teachers and teaching unions have criticised the government's last-minute move to keep schools closed for the majority of pupils in England.
Vice president of the Ascl head's union Pepe Di'Iasio suggested ministers should have seen this coming.
"We've all seen this coming, and we would have preferred to have been able to plan for this before the end of last term," he told BBC News.
The secondary school term has been delayed for two weeks by ministers.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson made a statement in the Commons on Wednesday. He also said some primary schools in Covid hot spots would remain closed - this equates to about 15% of primary schools.
The government had asked schools to start setting up mass testing programmes for January in their schools on the last day of the Christmas term for many.
'Peak predicted'
But heads and teachers said the time-scale was not workable, as they would be setting up online learning for the majority of pupils in the first week of term as well.
And there had been growing pressure for earlier school shut downs as virus cases soared in many areas including parts of London and south-east England, and as attendance figures dropped dramatically.
Mr Di'Iasio said; "I think everyone in the country has known that there's going to be a surge and a peak, particularly in January."
An earlier decision would have meant that teachers could have made preparations in time for children to go back as normal, he said.
Parent, Chihera Mai Shingi, agreed with the decision, posting on the BBC News Family and Education Facebook page: "We got Covid from our Year 7 daughter. Schools should be closed."
But Charlotte Elizabeth Hayward expressed her concerns about schools carrying out the testing: "Space? Staff? Resources (financial and otherwise).
"It's not just a quick set up. We have 1,600 kids and around 200 staff. All on an already fit to burst site. The man does not have a clue."
'Revolving door'
Chairman of the Commons Education Select Committee Robert Halfon said teachers and support staff should be made a priority for vaccinations.
"If we can make sure that they are vaccinated and they are safe, it's less likely that schools will have to close, and this two weeks has to mean two weeks.
"Schools just can't be a revolving door that never stands still, open one day, shut the next."
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Joint general secretary of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, said she was astonished that any pupils were going back at all before 18 January.
"A longer period of online working for all primary, secondary and college students could suppress virus levels and buy time both for the roll out of the vaccine and to put in place measures that can keep schools safer."
She added: "We would like Gavin Williamson to explain, if schools are not centres of transmission, why school age pupils are now the most infected age groups?"
Richard Sheriff, executive head teacher of Harrogate Grammar School, said regular testing could be key to minimising classroom disruptions but criticised the government for announcing the plans just days before the Christmas break.
"Testing and the delayed return is a realistic program," he said, "but it still puts a huge amount of pressure on schools".
"We need reassurances in the physical arrangements for testing, including extra space and support on the ground to make it happen."
The government says schools are being supported financially to set up testing and argued that they are only being closed as a "last resort" because of the rising number of cases.
There is "absolutely no reason" schools in England will not be ready to mass test pupils when they return next term, the education secretary has said.
Gavin Williamson said he wanted school closures to be as "short as possible" after delaying their reopening amid surging coronavirus cases.
It comes as people are being warned to not to gather on New Year's Eve.
Some 20 million people in England have been told to "stay at home" after tier four was expanded at midnight.
They join the 24 million already in the toughest restrictions - meaning non-essential businesses must close, and people should stay home unless they have a "reasonable excuse".
Tier four restrictions also mean people cannot meet others indoors, unless they are part of a support bubble, while indoor entertainment venues and businesses such as hairdressers and nail bars must close.
Areas of the Midlands and northern England, including Greater Manchester, Leicestershire and Warwickshire, are among those added.
On Wednesday the UK recorded a further 50,023 new Covid cases, as well as 981 more deaths within 28 days of a positive test - more than double Tuesday's total.
An intensive care doctor has also urged people not to gather and said those who do not follow social distancing rules or wear masks have "blood on their hands".
Prof Hugh Montgomery, professor of intensive care medicine at University College London, said: "It is making me actually very angry now that people are laying the blame on the virus, and it is not the virus, it is people, people are not washing their hands, they are not wearing their masks."
NHS England medical director Prof Stephen Powis said it was "absolutely vital" people stayed home and did not mix, saying "Covid loves a crowd", while Health Secretary Matt Hancock said people must take "personal responsibility".
A six-week lockdown began in Northern Ireland on 26 December, while Wales also has a national lockdown with people banned from visiting other households.
The latest figures show 786,000 people have received the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine between 8 December and 27 December, NHS England said.
GPs are to be offered £10 for every care home resident vaccinated and NHS staff will also be prioritised now that the Oxford jab has been approved, the health service said.
Deepti Gurdasani, epidemiologist and senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, told BBC Radio 5 Live there appeared to be a "bottleneck" in the delivery of the jabs and said the volume of vaccines being given was "six times lower" than the two million target.
Mr Williamson announced on Wednesday that secondary schools across most of England are to remain closed for an extra two weeks for most pupils, to help regain control of coronavirus amid concerns about a fast-spreading new variant.
The education secretary told BBC Breakfast that remote learning would be "mandatory" from the week commencing 11 January for all secondary students, other than years 11 and 13 who would physically return to school on that date.
Defending the delay to term, he said the government was "battling this hidden enemy" saying there was £78m of funding for schools to get testing up and running.
As soon as news emerged of the new faster-spreading variant questions began to be asked about schools.
An analysis by Public Health England released this week showed there was no evidence it was more able to infect children than other variants.
But that does not mean infection rates have not been rising among children.
As with all age groups, the proportion of school children testing positive increased during December - with more virus around there was more transmission.
Primary school children however still remain one of the age groups with the lowest infection rates.
But the sheer scale of the infection levels in the worst-hit areas means ministers wanted to buy themselves time, hence some primaries will remain closed.
If large numbers of pupils and staff need to isolate, it makes the smooth-running of schools impractical.
Ministers are hoping mass testing coupled with the tougher restrictions - three-quarters of England are now in the highest tier - will be enough to curb infection levels and keep a lid on the spread in schools.
But it is clear they will have to tread carefully to achieve that.
Mr Williamson said more than 85% of primary schools were reopening on Monday and that he wanted any closures to be "short".
At a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the "sheer pace of spread of new variant means we have to take tougher action in some areas".
But teaching unions said the move did not go far enough, and one labelled it another "last-minute mess".
Pepe Di'Iasio, headteacher of Wales High near Rotherham and vice-president of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "We've all seen this coming and we would have preferred to have been able to plan for this before the end of last term so that parents can be made aware of it."
People planning to celebrate the end of 2020 have been told to avoid parties because "COVID loves a crowd", amid warnings of extra policing to stop mass gatherings.
The government has launched a campaign urging people in England to "See in the New Year safely at home", with adverts running across radio, print media and out of home advertising.
The initiative by Public Health England reminds the public how easily coronavirus can spread.
Image:The ad campaign is running across radio and print media
It says that one in three people have no symptoms and that they "should act like they have the virus to avoid spreading it without realising".
The advertising reiterates people should not meet up with friends or family indoors, unless they are in the same household or support bubble, and they should avoid large gatherings of any kind.
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock, said: "With our NHS under pressure we must all take personal responsibility this New Year's Eve and stay at home.
"I know how much we have all sacrificed this year and we cannot let up. Over 600,000 people have now been vaccinated and we are close to beating this virus.
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"Now more than ever, we need to pull together to save lives and protect our NHS.
"If we continue to do our bit by staying at home, we can get through this together."
Image:Public Health England wants people to stay at home tonight
London's annual New Year's Eve firework display over the River Thames is cancelled this year and no public gatherings are allowed.
However, Big Ben, which has been largely silent since 2017 while its clock tower is restored, will sound 12 bongs at midnight.
The Metropolitan Police issued a warning to potential revellers to "celebrate the New Year in the comfort of their own homes, not the homes of family and friends".
Those who break the rules could face fines starting from £100 to potentially £10,000.
Image:Big Ben being tested ahead of New Year's Eve to ensure it can issue its 12 bongs to mark the New Year
Commander Paul Brogden, who is leading this year's operation, said: "The public can expect to see officers deployed across the capital, supporting communities and focusing strongly on the few people intent on breaching and ignoring the guidance put in place to keep everyone safe.
"Officers will also be paying attention to parts of London that are experiencing the highest infection rates."
NHS England's medical director Professor Stephen Powis said that marking the New Year at home with just your nearest and dearest and within the rules would "reduce infections, relieve pressures on hospitals" and help to save lives.
"COVID loves a crowd," he said. "So please leave the parties for later in the year."
The new measures mean millions of people can only gather outside with one other person who is not in their household.
Nearly everyone in Scotland and Northern Ireland are also subject to the highest level of restrictions - which means large gatherings, even outside, will be banned.
For the first time in its history, Scotland's flagship Hogmanay event is moving online - where it will be headed by actor David Tennant.
Image:Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "I take no pleasure in saying this but we should ring in 2021 in our own homes."
The prime minister also had similar concerns over New Year's Eve celebrations.
He said: "I must ask you to follow the rules where you live tomorrow night and see in the New Year safely at home.
"That means not meeting up with friends or family indoors, unless they're in the same household or support bubble, and avoiding large gatherings of any kind."
It comes as deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said the NHS had yet to see the impact of household mixing over Christmas.
He said the situation in the UK is "precarious in many parts already" and urged the public to "play your part from bringing us back from this very dangerous situation".
"It is almost certainly true that the NHS has not yet seen the impact of the infections that will have occurred during mixing on Christmas Day and that is also unfortunately rather sobering," Prof Van-Tam said.
New Zealand is one of the first countries to ring in the New Year, with Auckland pushing ahead with its traditional celebration at the Sky Tower and Harbour Bridge landmarks.
A few hours later, Australia will celebrate the beginning of 2021 with a fireworks display, however, people are banned from gathering near to Sydney Harbour Bridge under COVID rules.
The education secretary has told Sky News he is "absolutely confident" that secondary schools will be able to carry out mass testing with an extra week to prepare.
Defending the decision to push back the return of pupils to secondary schools and colleges, Gavin Williamson told Sky News the move was about "rooting out coronavirus in our communities".
And speaking as another 20 million people moved into Tier 4 COVID-19 restrictions, the education secretary said he was "confident" the country would not be moving into another national lockdown.
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Secondary school pupils face delayed return
He announced on Wednesday that the phased reopening of secondary schools and colleges will be pushed back by a week.
Students in exam years will now return from 11 January, with other secondary and college students going back a week later.
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This is to allow schools and colleges to make preparations for the widespread testing of pupils and staff.
Mr Williamson told Sky News he was "absolutely confident" the extra time would be enough to allow them to be ready to roll out mass testing.
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"In terms of secondary year groups, the reason that we have moved that back is so we give all schools, every single school, every single college that teaches secondary-age pupils the opportunity to roll out a mass testing regime, making sure we root out this coronavirus," he said.
"It's not just about making it safer for pupils, it's not just about making it safer for those who work in schools, but actually it's about rooting out coronavirus in our communities and we did need to give schools a little bit extra time."
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December: Mass testing to be rolled out in schools
Mr Williamson added: "We'll be seeing all the testing equipment that is needed for schools being delivered on the 4th January, schools have already had notice of the guidance of what they need to do, they've also had notification of the extra £78m that we're offering."
Meanwhile, around a million primary school pupils in some of the areas with the highest rates of COVID-19 will not go back to the classroom next week as planned, with no date yet set for their return.
This will include primaries in 22 London boroughs, which between them have more than half a million pupils, and many primaries in Essex and Kent and some in East Sussex, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire.
Mr Williamson said the measure will be reviewed on 13 January - and ministers want schools that are not open to be able to welcome back pupils as soon as possible.
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UK reacts to latest coronavirus measures
"I want to see schools, any school, that's closed for those first two weeks, opening at the earliest possible opportunity," he said.
Mr Williamson added: "It's not what any of us would want to do, it's not a decision that any of us would be wanting to have to implement, but we've had to do that because circumstances have dictated it.
"I think the British public expect the government to do what is right and even though that is sometimes uncomfortable, it is taking the right actions, dealing with these extraordinary times."
He was speaking as it was announced that the return of schools in Northern Ireland will be delayed by a week, with schools now delivering remote learning in the first week of term.
Asked why teachers have not been prioritised for vaccination against COVID-19, the education secretary said the government had prioritised "those people who are most vulnerable" in the first wave of jabs.
"I think we all recognise where the first vaccines need to go, to those who are most likely to lose their lives as a result of catching COVID," Mr Williamson added.
He said that when it came to "future waves" off the vaccine rollout, "I'll be wanting to see teachers and all those support staff being up there on that list getting that vaccine".
Mr Williamson added: "It'd be great to see more teachers right up there getting the vaccine, but it's got to be made on clinical judgment as to how best we deal with and beat this virus."
