PCR take a look at appointments had been quickly unavailable in massive elements of Scotland on Monday.
Excessive demand led to slots on provide at solely eight out of Scotland’s 56 walk-in take a look at centres when checked on Monday afternoon.
On the identical time, of the eight drive-through take a look at websites north of the border solely two – Glenrothes and Inverness – had appointments obtainable on the day.
By Monday afternoon, walk-in slots had been on provide for a similar day at solely Wick, St Andrews, Inverness, Kirkcaldy Dunfermline Aberdeen Strathdee, Oban and Galashiels.
Different centres confirmed the message: “There are at present no slots obtainable on this present day. Attempt once more this night, when extra take a look at slots will likely be made obtainable.”
The dearth of appointments comes as Scotland recorded its highest variety of coronavirus circumstances for the reason that begin of the pandemic.
Provisional information launched by the Scottish Authorities exhibits 8,252 circumstances had been recorded on Christmas Day, with 11,030 optimistic assessments recorded on Boxing Day and 10,562 on Monday.
For some hours there have been no walk-in PCR assessments obtainable to e-book in England on Monday as a result of a “excessive demand”, in response to the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA).
Nevertheless, afterward within the afternoon bookings had been obtainable in each area, with the UKHSA saying the diminished availability was merely “momentary”.
Everybody with signs or who’s directed to get a PCR take a look at ought to proceed to come back ahead to get a take a look at delivered to their dwelling or at a take a look at website
UK Well being Safety Company
A UKHSA spokeswoman mentioned: “Appointments for PCR assessments can be found, however excessive demand can result in momentary diminished availability in some areas. Extra appointments are made obtainable for folks to e-book each afternoon.
“Testing is enjoying an integral position in conserving folks protected and managing the unfold of Covid-19.
“We’re very grateful to everybody who’s following the Authorities’s steerage and getting examined to guard themselves, their family members and their communities.
“Everybody with signs or who’s directed to get a PCR take a look at ought to proceed to come back ahead to get a take a look at delivered to their dwelling or at a take a look at website.”
A Scottish Authorities spokesperson mentioned: “The PCR testing system continues to function nicely although now we have seen vital will increase in each day circumstances throughout the UK and our labs are working via circumstances as rapidly as they’ll.
“If in case you have hassle discovering an obtainable take a look at slot in your native space, we advise attempting once more later.
“The UK Authorities is answerable for capability within the Lighthouse Lab community.
“Extra laboratory capability has been applied and we proceed to work with the UK Authorities to make sure that the degrees of lab capability throughout the community stay applicable.
“It is important that take a look at outcomes are communicated in a well timed method to permit the suitable public well being motion to be taken. We goal to have to speak outcomes from bodily take a look at websites inside 48 hours.
“Postal assessments might take longer to course of given the added time taken to submit to labs.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
