No in-person PCR tests available across whole of England, LBC can reveal

14 December 2021, 11:52 | Updated: 7 June 2023, 08:56

There are currently no available PCR tests across the whole of England's walk-in and drive-through sites, LBC can reveal.

According to the NHS website there are no test slots available across the whole of England - unless you are an essential worker.

You can however order some at-home PCR testing kits if you have symptoms - but these remain scarce.

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There are tests available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, however.

It comes as lateral flow tests ran out on the Government's website for a second day running - the day that daily testing comes into force for close contacts of a Covid case.

From Tuesday fully vaccinated contacts of a positive case in England are required to take daily lateral flow tests for a week, to help curb the spread of Omicron, which is infecting 200,000 people every day.

Mr Javid on Monday reassured MPs in Parliament that he has agreed new delivery arrangements with Amazon and others to address the problem.

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He told the Commons: "I can reassure this House that the UK has sufficient lateral flow tests to see us through the coming weeks.

"If anyone finds they are unable to get a kit online, they should check the website the following day or pop down to their local pharmacy and pick up a kit."

Mr Javid insisted there are "tens of millions" of tests available.

He said the "the limiting factor" is the ability to deliver the tests, branding the current arrangements with Royal Mail alone as "not enough".

This story is being updated.