CORONAVIRUS lateral flow tests have run out for a second day as new isolation rules come into play for Brits.
Those trying to order the tests from the government portal this morning have been met by dissapointment.
No 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.
This, a spokesperson said, was to ensure that all current orders are fulfilled first.
The shortage of tests comes as new rules on infection and isolate come into force today.
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.
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But those who are not vaccinated will have to isolate for a full ten days, unless they are eligible for or 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.
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 Trending In The News’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 Trending In The News: “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.
