Those who missed Christmas due to Covid could miss New Year’s Eve too despite isolation cut due to lateral flow shortage
BRITS who missed Christmas due to Covid could also have their New Year's Eve plans ruined - despite isolation being cut from 10 to seven days.
A global lateral flow test shortage may mean hundreds of thousands of people who tested positive for the virus before December 25 are still stuck indoors for the second big celebration.
Under new guidance issued in the run up to the big day, self-isolation was slashed to seven days in order to save festive get-togethers and limit damage to the economy.
Previous laws meant quarantine lasted for 10 days following the start of symptoms or a positive result.
But the replacement rules let cooped up Brits leave their homes after a week following a negative at-home result on day six and day seven, taken 24 hours apart.
It allowed at least 280,000 Brits to spend Christmas Day with their families, and sparked hope for those who tested positive and missed out on the festivities that they could ring in the New Year with a bang.
However, the at-home testing kits are near impossible find thanks to low and "inconsistent" supplies - and Brits scrambling to get their hands on them.
So all those who got the dreaded two lines from Christmas Eve onward are facing a miserable night in front of the telly instead of being out with loved ones.
Those who are lucky enough to score a box in England could be free to party, but celebrations will be much more low-key in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland after new Covid restrictions were introduced to tackle the Omicron variant.
Demand is so high for the rapid antigen kits that pharmacies have been receiving requests for them every five minutes, and many are displaying signs in their windows reading "out of stock".
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Health Secretary Sajid Javid today acknowledged the crisis in a phone call with Tory MP Sir Roger Gale.
Sir Roger said: "The long and the short of it is he says there is a worldwide shortage of lateral flow tests.
"A British company that is making them has ramped up its production line fourfold and we are buying the lot, plus anything we can get from anywhere else around the world, but we are competing in a global market."
And the shortage is having a knock-on effect with people opting for PCR tests instead, but "there is not enough capacity"; in labs to process them, Sir Roger added.
The chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies blamed supply problems, adding that the current daily influx of 900,000 tests has not been meeting the high demand.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Leyla Hannbeck said: "What our members are telling us is that demand for the lateral flow tests is very high at the moment due to the current guidelines around self-isolation.
"Pharmacies are reporting that every five minutes approximately somebody comes in to the pharmacy asking for a test.
"But, unfortunately, because of the issues around supply being patchy and inconsistent, it means that those who come for the test don't always get it, which is very stressful not just for the pharmacy team but for the patient.
The scale of the problem is huge because the demand is high.
"The scale of the problem is huge because the demand is high, because of the current guidelines.
"People are doing the responsible thing by wanting to be tested and we are in the Christmas area of time, and the New Year is just around the corner and people want to be with family and friends."
In a repeat of events in the weeks before Christmas, the Government website is reporting that there are no PCR tests available for people including key workers in England and Northern Ireland.
There are also "very few available" in Scotland, while people in Wales can order the tests online for now.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said nearly 900,000 test kits are being provided per day - which is double the supply seen before December 18 - but Ms Hannbeck said deliveries have been "patchy".
"It just simply isn't enough to meet the demand," she said.
"Some days you get one box delivered and other days none. It isn't enough for the pharmacies to deliver to the patients."
The UKHSA has said tests may be temporarily unavailable online at points throughout the day due to "exceptionally high demand" and urged people not to order more tests before using the ones they have.
A spokesperson said: "Rapid tests are available to order directly to people's homes via gov.uk and availability is refreshed regularly throughout the day.
"We encourage people to re-visit the site every few hours if they are unable to order tests as more will become available - and to please ensure they are making use of any tests they already have at home before ordering or collecting more."
High demand is likely down to daily infections reaching record highs across the UK, and Boris Johnson's call for revellers to take a Covid test ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations.
The PM encouraged punters to enjoy the night in a "cautious and sensible way" by ordering a test and booking a booster jab.
While visiting a vaccination clinic in Milton Keynes today, Mr Johnson told reporters: "I think everybody should enjoy New Year but in a cautious and sensible way.
"Take a test, ventilation, think about others - but, above all, get a booster."
Vaccines could be the key to freedom after a string of hugely positive studies show Omicron IS milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.
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Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.
The Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits' arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.
