Madrid's free COVID tests struggle to keep up with demand

People queue to receive free lateral flow coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests at a pharmacy, as the regional authorities re-stocked the supplies after the Christmas in Madrid, Spain December 28, 2021. REUTERS/Javier Barbancho

MADRID (Reuters) - Demand for free COVID-19 testing kits provided by Madrid's regional government far outstripped supply on Tuesday, with long queues forming outside pharmacies in what has become a common scene since the Omicron variant began driving up infection.

It was a similar story in Italy, where long lines have developed at some drive-in testing centres while many chemists have reported being deluged with requests for tests as infections climb.