Ireland is set to limit access to PCR test kits to those aged over 40 in a bid to ease pressure on stocks as it deals with record numbers of Covid cases caused by the new Omicron variant.
The move will pile pressure on Boris Johnson to follow suit as coronavirus testing chaos enters its fifth day due to a lack of of lateral flow tests and PCR appointments being available.
Stephen Donnelly, Ireland's health minister, today advised that those aged between four and 39 who have Covid symptoms should self-isolate immediately - and take regular antigen tests at home instead of booking a PCR test.
They should only arrange a PCR test if they have a positive antigen test.
Self-isolating advice for those who test positive for Covid-19 in Ireland has also changed.
Those aged 12 and over, who have had their booster vaccine jabs for at least seven days, should self-isolate for seven days instead of the previous advice of 10 days.
The change comes into effect on January 3 and also states that those over 40 should seek a PCR test as soon as they display symptoms of Covid.
More than 189,000 Covid cases were recorded across the UK yesterday - and 20,544 cases in Ireland - while the number of hospital patients with Covid in England rose to 11,452, a rise of 61% in just one week.
Ireland's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said today: 'We have seen a significant surge in infections and that has continued unabated.
'We had in excess of 20,000 cases announced yesterday. We think because of the constraints in our testing capacity... if we didn't have those constraints we might have had as many as 30,000 cases picked up yesterday.'
He added: 'The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 is continuing to increase.
'I know many people have cancelled or postponed planned social and family events, not just for New Year's Eve, but right throughout the Christmas period.
'The occasions in life we most look forward to have been changed utterly by this pandemic.
'However, these collective efforts are necessary to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our health service.'
Dr Holohan said the current situation would be much worse if it had not been for the vaccination programme.
'This isn't like last year because of vaccination. If we had these case numbers and we didn't have vaccination, which was the situation we were in this time last year, we would have had very significant numbers of hospitalisations, we would have very significant numbers of potential deaths.
'It is an enormous difference from last year, even though we are dealing with much bigger case numbers. The reality is that we see a very significant surge of this new Omicron variant. We are seeing early signs which are giving us concern in terms of hospitalisations.
'The first three days of this week we have seen hospitalisations exceeding 100 per day.'
He added: 'The basic message is that the measures that people can take to protect themselves are really important now because there is so much of this infection out there.
'It is too early for us to conclude that we understand what the pattern of hospitalisations is going to be.
'We are in a situation as a country where we will simply not be able to manage within the health service, and we will have challenges across many other essential services if we have many, many more people being infected at the same time.
'That is why our message about people restricting their movements and cutting down their social contacts are so important to help us.'
It comes as Boris Johnson earlier urged people to get tested before celebrating with friends and family after confirming on Monday that no new Covid restrictions would be brought in for New Year's Eve festivities.
But rapid swab kits were not available online and pharmacies warned they had run out too with the Government website still showing they are unavailable for home delivery this morning.
Appointments for drive-through and walk-in Covid tests were unavailable for hours on Wednesday – even for doctors, nurses and carers - and are still unavailable this morning.
As the UK reported 183,037 virus cases, there were fears the supply crisis could stop staff taking tests to leave self-isolation and return to work. NHS bosses warned personnel shortages could be exacerbated.
The lack of tests will also make it harder for people to know whether they have the virus before ringing in 2022 with loved ones.
But the Prime Minister told New Year revellers to party on regardless, saying that not having a negative Covid result just means being vigilant.
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