BOOKING a coronavirus test over the past few weeks has proved difficult for many, but now seems to be impossible.
People across the country have been told their nearest tests centre with availability may be hundreds of miles away.
Today, however, there are no slots at any walk-through or drive-through centre, as well as no at-home kits available.
A search on the government website for the postcode of Basingstoke Festival Place (RG21 7BA), carried out at 3:45pm on Friday, September 11, produced the result 'No test sites found'.
The problem seems to be affecting people across England, and is reportedly due to laboratory maanufacturing, not centre capacity.
Have I got this right? There are currently NO #coronavirus tests available in England anywhere, anytime. Drive through, walk through, at home, via website or phone line. Zilch.
— Rob Sansom (@Sansom_Rob) September 11, 2020
Earlier this week, Sarah-Jane Marsh, director of testing and NHS Test and Trace, issued an apology on Twitter to those unable to book a test.
"Can I please offer my heartfelt apologies to anyone who cannot get a COVID test at present," she said.
"All of our testing sites have capacity, which is why they don't look overcrowded, it's our laboratory processing that is the critical pinch-point. We are doing all we can to expand quickly."
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