Walmart Inc., Walgreens Boots Alliance, and CVS Health Corp. have limited sales of covid-19 test kits at home as demand increases due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The variant has quickly become dominant in the US, shattered hopes for a more normal holiday period, revive restrictions and stretch the country’s test infrastructure for holiday trips and gatherings.

Walgreens said in an email on Tuesday that it would limit both online and in-store purchases of test kits to four per customer. The company also said it was working with suppliers to catch up with demand.

Walmart set a limit of eight tests for each online order, but allowed its physical stores to set their own limits depending on inventory levels.

Limited online stock

“We have strong inventory levels nationally in stock,” Walmart said in a statement. “But, stock is more limited online depending on the zip code.”

CVS limited the sale of test kits to six per person and said that the products may be temporarily out of stock on their website because they prioritize stock in their stores.

The Biden administration said earlier in the day that it would buy 500 million quick tests at home that Americans can order for free online from January.

Elsewhere, UK retail growth fell sharply in the first half of December as concerns about the Omicron coronavirus variant continued shoppersis at home, according to a survey, which may increase the pressure on the government to provide more urgent support.

News by Reuters, edited by ESM. For more Retail news, click here. Click on subscribe to register ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.