Lateral flow tests are unavailable for home delivery again as people up and down the country prepare for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
When attempting to order a kit, The Government website currently reads: “Sorry, there are no home delivery slots left for rapid lateral flow tests right now.
“You may still be able to pick up rapid lateral flow tests from a pharmacy or collection point, where these are available. Only pick up tests if you do not have symptoms.”
READ MORE: The one thing experts are asking people to do when taking a lateral flow test
It's at least the sixth time lateral flow tests have been unavailable for delivery, with the UK Health Security Agency recently blaming an 'unprecedented demand' for the shortage.
Those looking for nearby pharmacies that stock test kits can do so by following the link here.
The shortage comes following the news England could face new coronavirus restrictions in January if hospital cases begin to soar, according to reports.
Cabinet minister George Eustice has warned that if there is a rise in hospitalisations in the new year, then the government will be forced to 'act further'.
This comes after Boris Johnson ruled last night that no further coronavirus measures will be imposed in England before New Year, unlike Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland where new restrictions have been brought in.
Although New Year's parties have been given the green light in England, there has been a surge of cases over the festive period.
At least 315,000 new Covid cases were recorded over the three-day Christmas weekend, with a record high of 113,628 new cases on Christmas Day and another 103,558 confirmed on Boxing Day.
On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, George Eustice said: “The key question is how many of those infections will translate into hospitalisations.
“There is early encouragement from what we know in South Africa, that you have fewer hospitalisations, and the number of days they stay in hospital if they do go in is significantly lower than in previous variants.
“So at the moment we don’t think the evidence supports any more interventions beyond what we’ve done.
“But obviously we’ve got to keep it under very close review. Because if it is the case that we start to see a big increase in hospitalisations, then we would have to act further.
“And that’s why we need to keep it under close review.”
