People ordering packs of free lateral flow tests online are being told they must wait 72 hours in between orders.
Packs of seven rapid Covid-19 tests have so far been available to order once every 24 hours using the government's online form.
But people attempting to order tests today, February 21, have been told to wait longer before they can have anymore.
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Some people trying to make an order have been met with the message: "You have ordered a test within the last 72 hours. You can only place one order in a 72 hour period. If we have made a mistake, you can call the contact centre."
It comes amid reports that the government is set to scrap the free provision of lateral flow tests.
Reports suggest that tests may still be available to some elderly or vulnerable people, but that healthy adults will have to pay if they want to test themselves in the future.
The change from one box every day to one box every three days may have been made to prevent people from stockpiling the tests ahead of Boris Johnson's announcement today.
The prime minister is expected to make a statement at 4.30pm in the House of Commons outlining his plans for 'living with Covid', which includes scrapping the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test result.
He hinted on Sunday that provision for free tests could not continue at their current rate due to the cost of £2 billion a month.
Business minister Paul Scully said it would be up to individual businesses to foot the cost of their testing regime if they want to continue checking whether their employees have coronavirus.
Meanwhile, health officials and leaders of the devolved nations have condemned the move to scale back the regime.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said it would be “premature and reckless” to wind back the programme, adding in a tweet: “Testing has played a pivotal role in breaking chains of transmission and as a surveillance tool helping us detect and respond to emerging variants. It’s essential that this continues.”
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that if reports that no new money had been given to carry on testing were correct, it would be “inexcusable negligence given ongoing risks”.
The Manchester Evening News has contacted the UK Health Security Agency for a comment.
