The online application system for essential workers to book coronavirus tests temporarily closed following huge demand.

The new government website will reopen tomorrow following a large number of applications.

Within hours of the new website going live this morning, those looking to book a coronavirus test online were met with the message to "check back later", after being told: "You can't currently register for a COVID-19 test."

Earlier, the website had also displayed the message that Friday's allocation of home-testing kits had already been reached.

Image: Essential workers were met with this message on Friday morning

Downing Street later revealed that 5,000 home-testing kits, the total available capacity for the day, had been ordered within two minutes of the online portal opening.


These are posted out for next-day delivery, with results expected within 72 hours.

The number of home-testing kits available each day will increase to 18,000 by the end of next week, Number 10 added.

They also said 15,000 drive-through tests were expected to be carried out today.

Image: Sharon Tyrrell has been self-isolating at home after developing COVID-19 symptoms

Sharon Tyrrell, a teacher from Poole, has been self-isolating at home after developing COVID-19 symptoms last week.

Her nearest testing centre is a five-hour round trip, so this morning she initially tried to apply for a home-test.

When that didn't work, she applied for a drive-through test but received a message saying that applications had closed.

"It's just infuriating really," she told Sky News. "I'm due to go into work on Monday and there is a lot of vulnerable people there, let alone my own family.

"While I appreciate that there's got to be priority for NHS workers, there are a lot of other people who are continuing to work during this crisis and that are putting themselves - and their families - at risk.

"And it would really good to be able to just know for sure that we're not doing that."

The prime minister's official spokesman confirmed that those applying for tests are being trusted to be key workers, with no eligibility checks in place for online bookings.

He said: "As with many other aspects of the coronavirus response, we would expect the public to respond in good faith.

"That is what they have done with other aspects of the scheme, I think we'd expect it to be the same here."

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. — Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) April 24, 2020

Soon after 11am, the Department of Health and Social Care had posted 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."

A government source said the website hadn't crashed and the temporary closure was "a positive" as it showed that there was huge demand for COVID-19 tests.

It is understood online applications were closed to make sure the volumes are manageable and those tests already booked in can be fulfilled.

The source added it showed why increasing capacity for testing was so important.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Thursday announced the expansion of coronavirus testing to all essential workers - and members of their households - who show COVID-19 symptoms.

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The government is aiming to meet a target of conducting 100,000 tests per day by the end of this month.

On Wednesday, 23,560 coronavirus tests were carried out despite there being capacity for more than double that number of tests.

At that point, a more limited number of essential workers had been eligible for tests.

The Department of Health and Social Care is also launching a network of mobile testing units to travel where there is significant demand, including care homes, police stations and prisons.