Amazon to deliver lateral flow kits after government website overwhelmed by demand

Britons are braced for a scramble to access Covid tests as new daily testing rules come into force for contacts of positive cases.

Officials insisted that there is no shortage of the lateral flow kits, despite thousands of users being told that none were available on the Government’s website throughout Monday.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the Government has enough stock to meet demand, but a lack of postal slots had forced it to pause giving out tests in the face of overwhelming demand.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that “new arrangements” had been reached with companies, including Amazon, to ensure tests get delivered.

It comes as the online retail giant is also poised to start selling low-cost PCR tests to travellers. It is understood that the Amazon service could be added to the government’s approved list of providers imminently.

Mr Javid said: “There is no shortage of actual tests that are held by UKHSA. There are tens of millions of tests… the issue, the limiting factor because of the hugely increased demand… is the ability to deliver the tests and having enough capability to deliver the tests because the current arrangements with Royal Mail alone are not enough.”

He said a record number of tests would be delivered each day, and the number of “access points” is being increased including more through local pharmacies.

Boots, which provides lateral flow testing kits at 2,100 pharmacies around the UK, admitted that it was facing a shortage in some areas.

A spokeswoman told i that while overall stock levels remained good, there is “a small number of stores that are experiencing temporary shortages due to higher demand”.

Rules kick in from Tuesday that allow double-jabbed people identified as a contact of someone with Covid-19 in England to take a daily rapid test for seven days, in place of self-isolation.

Meanwhile new regulations, expected to be voted through the Commons this week, will see those who are not vaccinated required to show proof of a negative test result to access large indoor venues, such as nightclubs.

The plan would extend the Covid passport rules already in place for Scotland and Wales.

A UKHSA spokesperson said: “Everyone who needs a lateral flow test can collect test kits – either at their local pharmacy, some community sites and some schools and colleges.

“Due to exceptionally high demand, ordering lateral flow tests on gov.uk has been temporarily suspended to fulfil existing orders.”

A Downing Street spokesman said: “There is no shortage of lateral flow tests. We have more than sufficient supply. What we are seeing is, because of the heightened demand today, those available to be posted out today, those slots have been filled already.”

On Monday the Prime Minister urged people to visit shops and pharmacies if unable to book a delivery from the gov.uk website.