Measures being considered to help with the outbreaks include bringing forward second vaccine doses for affected areas.
Soaring cases of the COVID Indian variant have forced the government to consider bringing forward vaccine second doses in some areas.
The moves came after fresh data showed that variant infections had more than doubled in the past week.
Public Health England (PHE) on Thursday said there are 1,313 cases in the UK, up from the 520 recorded the previous week.
In response to the rise, the government has announced a range of new measures – and is considering shortening the 12-week gap between vaccine jabs.
A statement from the Department of Health and Social Care said that “most cases are in the North West of England, with some in London”.
Surge testing, increased genomic sequencing and enhanced contact tracing have all been introduced in affected regions.
Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier said he was “anxious” about the variant, and was “ruling out nothing” to tackle it.
