There are currently no drive-through or walk-in PCR tests available across the whole of England - as pressure ramps up on the government to increase capacity.
According to the gov.uk website, there are no test sites for PCR tests available in any regions across the country.
When the Manchester Evening News tried to book one this morning (December 30), only home kits were available to order.
Lateral flow kits were available to order online despite reports of 'patchy' supplies on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Covid testing is 'turned off' because laboratories can't cope amid spiralling Omicron surge
Yesterday, there were no tests available at all, meaning that people wanting to get tested before New Year's Eve will now struggle.
This comes as the M.E.N was told that Covid laboratories ‘cannot cope’ with the scale of the testing demand being sent through to them, after demand soared over the festive period.
On Wednesday, a new record was set for the daily number of coronavirus cases, as all four UK nations reported their figures for the first time since Christmas Eve.
The UK Health Security Agency last night admitted that during periods of ‘exceptional demand’, testing availability was being ‘paused’, but urged people to keep trying.
The reduced postal system over Christmas has also added to the issues.
But Health Secretary Sajid Javid admitted there were global supply issues to a senior Tory MP.
Sir Roger Gale told the PA news agency that Mr Javid had confessed there was a problem with supplies – previously ministers and officials had insisted they had sufficient stocks but the problems were in delivering them to people’s homes or pharmacies.
The North Thanet MP said: “Saj was very honest with me, he said, ‘look, there isn’t a quick fix’.”
Sir Roger said “we have created the demand in England which we now 'can’t satisfy' as a result.
He added: “The Prime Minister has now found himself caught between the Covid Recovery Group and supporters and the scientists.
“We are now facing the situation where No 10 is saying go and get tested and the Department of Health is saying we haven’t got the tests, we can’t do it.”
Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, said people are often unable to find Covid-19 tests in chemists because of 'patchy' and 'inconsistent' supplies.
People have reportedly been turning up to pharmacies for lateral flow tests 'every five minutes' over the Christmas period - and have often been unable to get one.
On several occasions, PCR tests have been unavailable to book or order on the government website - after the Prime Minister urged people to get swabbed before enjoying new year celebrations.
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: “People are trying to do the right thing, follow the Government’s own advice, and test themselves regularly, but are prevented by the Conservative Government’s incompetence.”
A UKHSA spokesman said: “We are delivering record numbers of lateral flow tests to pharmacies across the country, with almost eight million test kits being made available to pharmacies between today and New Year’s Eve.
“We have made 100,000 more PCR booking slots available per day since mid-December and we are continuing to rapidly expand capacity, with over half a million tests carried out on 23 December alone and delivery capacity doubled to 900,000 PCR and LFD test kits a day.
“If you have not been able to get the test you need from gov.uk, please keep checking every few hours as more PCR and LFD tests become available every day.”
