The Government's new portal for arranging coronavirus tests has sparked confusion today, following a message suggesting home tests had run out by 9am.
As of Friday morning, millions of key workers and their families are invited to book Covid-19 tests online.
However, a message on the dedicated site earlier stated: "We’ve issued today’s allocation of home test kits. If you need a home test kit, check back here tomorrow, when more will be available.
"You can continue if you’re able to visit a drive through test centre."
The alert was later removed.
A Department of Health (DoH) spokesperson told the Standard that a thousand home tests had been made available today, but they were expected to run out quickly.
They said the number of these tests would increase quickly and substantially over the coming days and, meanwhile, tens of thousands of tests were available at regional drive-through sites.
A short while later, the website ceased accepting applications due to high demand.
Matt Hancock told Thursday's Downing Street press conference that anyone whose work is critical to the Covid-19 response, and those they live with, would be able to register for a test.
"We can make it easier, faster and simpler for any essential worker who needs a test to get a test," the Health Secretary said.
Information on the gov.uk website says: "Essential workers using the new portal can enter their details and will then receive a text or email the same day inviting them to either book an appointment at one of more than 30 drive-through testing sites across the country, or receive a home testing kit.
"The aim is that most people should not have to drive for more than 45 minutes to get to a regional testing site. However, additional testing methods are being rolled-out to support testing accessibility."
The DoH issued an apology after it was forced to suspend applications for the day.
It said in a statement shared on Twitter: "There has been significant demand for booking tests today.
"We apologise for any inconvenience. We are continuing to rapidly increase availability. More tests will be available tomorrow.”
During a series of breakfast interviews following his announcement, the Health Secretary said he was “carefully” watching to ensure the website could handle the expected online traffic.
He also told Good Morning Britain (GMB) that the number of test centres available was being expanded from 30 to 50 and said a home testing kit would become available.
He said: “We are also introducing home tests, in small numbers at first, and we will ramp that up so you can get the test posted to your home, you self-administer it – you follow a video that is on the internet and the instructions on the test – a courier then comes and picks up your test, takes it back to our labs and you get the result.
“We are absolutely dealing with that access issue.”
