Study to track coronavirus infection and immunity launched with 20,000 households to take part

Some 20,000 households in England are being contacted to take part in a study to track coronavirus in the general population.

The study aims to improve understanding of infection levels and how many people may have immunity to the virus.

All participants will provide a nose and throat swab to test for whether or not they currently have the virus, while adults in some 1,000 of the households will provide a blood sample to find out what proportion of the population has developed antibodies to Covid-19.

Initial findings are expected in early May.

In total, the government says some 25,000 people will take part in the pilot phase with plans to extend it to up to around 300,000 over the next 12 months.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), leading the study with the Office for National Statistics (ONS), said participants will form a representative sample of the UK population by age and geography.

Those selected will provide samples taken from self-administered nose and throat swabs and answer a few short questions during a home visit by a trained healthcare professional.

Swab tests will show whether or not participants currently have the virus.

They will be asked to take further tests every week for the first five weeks, then every month for a year.