Covid: No internal flow test for third day as Omicron tears through UK

No lateral flow tests available to order for third day of run, as experts warn of Omicron case numbers will be ‘incredible’ in the coming days.

The Government website now says ‘home delivery is not available’.

It advised people to check in at pharmacies or points of collection, but many of these were also dropped, social media reports said.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Service, warned the double infection rate is now under two days in most areas of the UK.

She said that the new variant ‘is probably the most significant threat we’ve faced since the start of the Covid pandemic.

Meanwhile, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has warned the NHS could be overwhelmed next month.

Professor Graham Medley said ‘we could see increased hospitalizations’ if infections continued to rise and spread to older age groups.

New Covid curb It is now being introduced as a booster vaccine that is open to all adults, with long lines at health centers and on Government websites.

There are concerns that Plan B’s restrictions – including weathering Covid at major events – will not be enough, with Plan C and Plan D are rumored to be implemented.

On Monday, the UK Health Security Agency said ‘due to exceptionally high demand, ordering of flow tests above gov.uk has been temporarily suspended to fulfill existing orders. ‘.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab insisted the problem was not a lack of supplies and blamed ‘allocation and distribution, or delivery’.

He told BBC Breakfast: ‘We know that in regards to the online system, there were some challenges yesterday. [Monday] and that’s partly because of the rate they have per day.

‘We’re making sure that while people might want to order and buy them, we’re strengthening not only our capacity … but also our distribution and supply capabilities.’

The UK Health Security has been contacted for further comment.

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