Sajid Javid was today accused of living on another planet after insisting there was no shortage of lateral flow tests.
Tens of thousands of Britons trying to get their hands on home testing kits were told none were available by the Government’s own website.
Many pharmacies, town halls, sports clubs — and even Parliament — have also run out of swabs.
But the Health Secretary told the Commons that tens of millions were already sitting in warehouses in the country and millions more were arriving every week.
Labour’s Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting blasted Mr Javid over the shortage of lateral flow tests in a debate this afternoon.
He said: ‘I thought the Health Secretary might be living on a different planet when he discussed the availability of testing because the Government’s website today states that home testing kits are unavailable.’
Mr Javid said a ‘sudden surge’ in demand had overwhelmed the system, with Royal Mail left unable to keep up with deliveries. Amazon has been brought in to help.
It comes after ministers urged Brits to test themselves using the kits before heading home or socialising over Christmas, and as confirmed cases of the Omicron variant surged 50 per cent in a day to 4,713.
From tomorrow, all vaccinated people who are a close contact of an infected person will also need to test themselves once a day for the virus instead of isolation.
And from Wednesday, pending the move being voted for by MPs, people heading to night clubs and large events will need to show a negative result if they aren’t double-jabbed.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured) insisted in the Commons today that there were enough lateral flows available. He said there were tens of millions in the country waiting to be delivered, but that a ‘surge in demand’ had overwhelmed the system
But for those trying to get the kits a message on the Government website today said there were none available and people should try again later. PCRs were unaffected
About 730,000 lateral flows are carried out in the UK every day according to official figures. People working in schools and parts of the health service need to test themselves twice a week for the virus using the kits
Those working in care homes, the NHS and schools currently rely on the swabs to test themselves for the virus twice a week.
In the Commons, Mr Streeting added: ‘Pharmacists across the country are out of stock and even here in Parliament there are no home testing kits available from Portcullis house.
‘No doubt this is due to a surge in demand ahead of the new testing requirement this week but surely that should have been foreseen and this is a serious problem.’
Mr Javid responded that there was ‘no actual shortage’ of lateral flow tests and said millions were being delivered every week.
He said: ‘The limiting factor — because of the hugely increased demand and I’m sure members can understand why demand has suddenly surged — is the ability to deliver the tests, and having enough capability to deliver the tests.
‘The current arrangements with Royal Mail alone are not enough. There are new arrangements that have been reached with Amazon and other delivery methods [are being investigated].’
Britons trying to order the kits on the Government website this morning were faced with the message: ‘Sorry, there are no more home test kits available right now.
‘Try again later. Or, you can go back and try to book a test site appointment [PCR] instead.’
MailOnline found there were still no testing kits available this afternoon.
Ministers including Mr Javid have been calling on Britons to take the tests before going home this Christmas.
And Britons have also been called on to swab themselves regularly in the lead up to Christmas.
It comes amid mounting concern over the spread of Omicron. Reported cases today rose by 50 per cent in just 24 hours, but officials fear it may now be triggering 200,000 cases a day
Some 500,000 PCRs are also carried out every day, according to official figures
The UK Health Security Agency is responsible for managing and supplying lateral flow kits in England, and has ordered at least 384million at a price of £1.3billion, or £3.65 for seven swabs. They are free for people to take.
Some 730,000 are taken in the country alone every day, alongside nearly 500,000 PCRs.
Many working in frontline roles including healthcare must swab themselves twice a week for the virus, creating further demand for the kits.
But from tomorrow demand is likely to surge further as anyone who is a contact of a Covid case is asked to take them once a day.
The shortage comes amid rising concern over the Omicron variant, with cases shooting up 50 per cent in 24 hours today to more than 4,700.
Mr Javid said the variant is already thought to be behind 20 per cent of infections in England and triggering another 200,000 cases a day.
It is behind 40 per cent of infections in the capital, and is expected to become dominant over the next 48 hours.
Britain’s Covid cases rose 6.2 per cent today after another 54,661 recorded.
The lack of lateral flow tests is a chilling reminder of last September when a rise in cases after children returned to school also sparked a shortage.
It quickly led to appointments at PCR centres filling up, with people struck down by the virus asked to travel up to 100 miles if they wanted to get a swab.
From April, lateral flow tests were made available to everyone in England twice a day.
Omicron cases jumped 50 per cent in 24 hours today amid rising concern over the spread of the variant.
Officials say it is already behind 20 per cent of cases in England and 40 per cent of those in London, and could be dominant in the capital within 48 hours.
Ministers are also calling on Britons to get their boosters, with Mr Javid saying today that the top-up will be included on Covid passes after enough Britons have had the chance to get one.
The comment came after Boris Johnson’s bid to ramp up the rollout risked descending into shambles, with booking websites crashing and huge queues at walk-in centres.
Mr Javid ran the gauntlet of Tory anger at the new ‘Plan B’ restrictions to tackle the Omicron variant in the Commons this evening. More than 70 MPs are threatening to rebel in crunch votes on the plans tomorrow.