No walk-in PCR tests in some areas – as lateral flows ‘run out’ for second day
BRITS are scrambling to get coronavirus tests today with both lateral flow tests and PCRs experiencing supply issues.
People wanting to book a walk-in PCR test in England have been met with disappointment as there are no slots available in some areas.
You can still book a walk-in test if you're in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, but not if you're in some English regions.
If you need a PCR test you can still get one to be delivered to your home address, you just can't book a walk-in slot.
Tests for the general public and essential workers are still available to be posted out.
Earlier today there were no English regions offering walk-in tests, but the website has now been updated - with just a few areas experiencing issues.
The areas with no tests are:
- Hertfordshire
- Suffolk
- Stockton-on-Tees (very few available)
- Isle of Wight
- Bristol
- Mendip
- London (very few available)
Aside from PCR tests, no lateral flow tests are currently available to be ordered, but you can still collect them from pharmacies or collection points.
It's the second day in a row Brits haven't been able to order tests, with the website yesterday insisting people should just 'try again later'.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for the tests and today said that high demand has meant that the ordering of tests has been suspended.
Most read in Health
This, a spokesperson said, was to ensure that all current orders are fulfilled first.
Downing Street has insisted there is significant testing capacity despite suggestions of difficulties finding PCR tests.
🔵 Read our Covid-19 live blog for the latest updates
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "In terms of PCR availability, I don't have the latest but I would envisage further booking possibilities will come online later and, of course, there are in-person opportunities as well."
He said 2.6 million lateral flows were dispatched between 8pm on Saturday and 8pm on Sunday, compared to 584,000 a month before on November 13.
The shortage of tests comes as new rules on infection and isolate come into force today.
A UKHSA spokesperson said: “Appointments for PCR tests are available, but high demand can lead to temporary reduced availability in some areas. More appointments are made available to book every afternoon.
“Testing is playing an integral role in keeping people safe and managing the virus and we’re so grateful to everyone that’s getting tested to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities.
"Everyone with symptoms or who is directed to get a PCR test should continue to come forward to get a test delivered to their home or at a test site.”
New rules mean that from today anyone who has been in contact with someone carrying Covid must test daily using an LFT for seven days.
This applies whether someone is carrying Omicron or Delta and has been implemented in order to stop the spread of the virus.
This also applies to Brits who are double vaccinated.
But those who are not vaccinated will have to isolate for a full ten days, unless they are eligible for an existing workplace daily contact testing.
Anyone who has been identified as a close contact and who has a negative LFT is still urged to limit contact with people outside their own household.
The government says these people should also follow guidance and work from home where possible as well as wearing a face covering as required.
read more on the sun
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab this morning insisted the issue with ordering LFTs from the Government website is not due to a lack of the tests.
He told BBC Breakfast: "The problem isn't supply and volume, the problem is the allocation and distribution, or the delivery, of it.
"We know that in relation to the online system there were some challenges yesterday and that's partly because of the proportion they've got each day.
"We're making sure that however people may wish to order them and procure them, we're ramping up not just the capacity ... but the ability to distribute and to deliver."
DOMINANCE PENDING
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid added that the Royal Mail alone was not enough to keep up with the current demand on tests, and said that arrangements were in the works with Amazon and other companies.
He said: "There is no shortage of actual tests that are held by UKHSA. There are tens of millions of tests... the issue, the limiting factor because of the hugely increased demand... is the ability to deliver the tests and having enough capability to deliver the tests because the current arrangements with Royal Mail alone are not enough."
Mr Javid said that Omicron is gaining speed across the UK and is set to be the dominant variant in the coming weeks.
He added: "We are taking this proportionate and more practical measure to limit the impact on people’s day to day lives while helping to reduce the spread of Omicron.
"Vaccines remain our best defence and I urge anyone yet to get a first and second jab to come forward and those eligible for a booster to get boosted as soon as possible."
Brits have been urged to come forward for their vaccination and booster jabs in a bid to beat the variant before Christmas.
JABS AWAY
Today, the Duchess of Cornwall got behind The Sun's Jabs Army campaign and urged Brits to sign up for the programme.
The renewed drive comes after Britain suffered its first Omicron death yesterday and No10 said vaccination centres will be open at later hours — and even jab people on Christmas Day — in an all-out bid to beat the virus.
Camilla — who is president of our Jabs Army partner, the Royal Voluntary Service — told The Sun: “Thanks to the combined efforts of so many, our country was the first in the world to begin vaccinating its people.
“Now we are faced with this new variant, I know that, once again, the wonderful Royal Voluntary Service and the Jabs Army will pull together so that we are all protected through the booster jab.
"You make us proud — and give us hope for brighter days ahead.”
The call comes amid a scramble to get an all-important third dose.
Yesterday, so many Brits tried to book a vaccine that the Government website crashed. More than 600,000 slots were believed to have been snapped up, with 15 bookings per second at its peak.
People waited for up to six hours in long snaking queues outside walk-in vaccination centres.
In a statement on LFTs, a spokesperson for UKHSA said: "There is no shortage of lateral flow tests. More tests should become available for home delivery every few hours.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“We are issuing record numbers of rapid test kits to people’s homes across the country, with 1.6 million tests – 230,000 boxes – distributed just yesterday. We are urgently working to further expand our delivery capacity so more people can order tests.
“Everyone who needs a lateral flow test can also collect them at their local pharmacy, some community sites and some schools and colleges.”