Lateral flow testing kits have run out on the government's website after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced an end to universal testing.
People who try to order tests on the official website, gov.uk, are currently receiving a message that says they are unavailable.
The message states: "Sorry, there are no home delivery slots left for these tests right now. The 119 service does not have access to more home delivery slots right now. You cannot order tests from NHS 111 or 999."
Read more: To follow our latest coronavirus headlines, click here.
The apparent shortage comes just hours after the Prime Minister announced that free universal testing would come to an end in England from April.
Boris Johnson yesterday announced his strategy "Living with Covid", which outlines the UK Government's timetable for moving out of the pandemic.
As part of this, from Friday April 1, free universal testing including both LFT and PCR for anyone with or without symptoms will end for the general public in England.
Until then, anyone who tests positive will be advised to stay at home but after that, people with Covid symptoms will be asked to "exercise personal responsibility".
The Prime Minister said the test and trace budget exceeded the Home Office's entire budget in 2020-21 and cost another £15.7bn in this financial year and £2bn in January alone.
Only a small group will be able to get tests due to testing positive, that will be the most vulnerable groups and decided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) but is likely to be only the very oldest and immunosuppressed. The Prime Minister said that would be detailed further in March.
Employers will be able to supply tests to employees, but that will be up to them. NHS and care home workers will not get testing if they are asymptomatic. There will be symptomatic testing in the NHS for patients and some asymptomatic testing if necessary. In social care, there will be regular asymptomatic testing for residents.
Once there's no longer a universal free offer, people will be able to buy them privately with a ballpark figure being quoted of around £20 for a packet of six tests.
People won't have to use the voluntary "Covid status certification" but the NHS app will remain for international travel.
There will be some testing as part of a "surveillance" programme. The UK Government say that laboratory capacity will be retained so that if there is another surge of cases, they can resume testing quickly. The number of test centres in England is already being reduced, and that will continue.
There had been fears that introducing a cost for lateral flow testing would lead to issues such as stockpiling. At the moment, the tests last for two years before they need to be thrown away. After the expiry date on the test box, the tests are no longer reliable.
Currently, tests can be ordered from the gov.uk website or can be collected from a number of locations. You can place one order a day and each box contains seven tests.
In announcing his timetable to the commons on Monday February 21, the Prime Minister also stated that with immediate effect the guidance for staff and students in most education and childcare settings to take twice-weekly testing would be removed, and from Thursday, February 24, all remaining legal restrictions are being made guidance.
From one minute past midnight on Thursday, the legal requirements to self-isolate will be removed. It means adults and children who test positive will be advised to stay at home but it is not a legal requirement.
If a positive case has met vaccinated contacts, they will no longer be asked to test for seven days. Nor will anyone a positive case has met who is under 18. Close contacts who are not vaccinated will not be asked to self-isolate.
The UK Government's £500 self-isolation payment will also come to an end, as will the legal obligation for people to tell employers when they have to self-isolate. Covid provisions for statutory sick pay will be able to claimed for another month.
The changes apply to England only. WalesOnline has asked the Welsh Government for an interview to explain its position in light of the changes, but some of these decisions made by the UK Government will impact Wales. The Prime Minister said he will work with the devolved governments, but the UK Government has said no extra money will be given to the Welsh Government to continue providing free testing.
The UK Government say it is not yet saying the pandemic is endemic and there could still be other significant mutations.
To get the latest coronavirus news sent straight to your email inbox sign up for our free Covid newsletter by clicking here
