Hopes for a vaccine were boosted after the study measured antibody levels in more than 30,000 Icelanders to look at how many people were infected and learn more about immune status after recovery. In previous studies, antibody levels dropped sharply within a few months after COVID-19, raising questions about the duration of immunity thatinfection may provide.
But the results, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, found among the 1,215 people with an infection confirmed by a gold-standard PCR laboratory test, 91 percent had antibody levels that rose during the first two months after diagnosis and then plateaued.
Scientists said it gives hope that “immunity to this unpredictable and highly contagious virus may not be fleeting”.
Researchers found about 1 percent of the population had been infected and of that group, 56 percent had received a confirmed diagnosis after a test.
Hopes for a vaccine breakthrough were given a boost today (Image: GETTY )
UK coronavirus cases mapped (Image: EXPRESS)
Another 14 percent had not been formally diagnosed but had quarantined after exposure to the virus. In the remaining 30 percent, the antibody tests led to discovery of prior infection.
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11.41am update: Deaths in private care homes
The number of excess deaths in private homes in England and Wales not linked to coronavirus has overtaken the number of Covid-19 deaths in all settings per week, new analysis shows.
Since the week ending June 26 there have been more non-coronavirus deaths registered above what would usually be expected in private homes than deaths registered involving COVID-19, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
Private homes have also experienced the highest number of excess deaths not linked to Covid-19 out of all settings.
This is despite overall non-coronavirus deaths falling to below average levels.
The UK returns to a new normal (Image: PA)
10.45am update: 57k deaths registered in UK
Just over 57,300 deaths involving Covid-19 have now been registered in the UK.
Figures published on Tuesday by the ONS show that 52,217 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred in England and Wales up to August 21, and had been registered by August 29.
Figures published last week by the National Records for Scotland showed that 4,222 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to August 23, while 871 deaths had occurred in Northern Ireland up to August 21 (and had been registered up to August 26) according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
Together, these figures mean that so far 57,310 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.
9.52am update: Sturgeon defends Glasgow lockdown
Nicola Sturgeon has defended the decision to impose new local lockdown restrictions on Glasgow and some surrounding areas, insisting that doing nothing was “not an option” in the face of rising numbers of coronavirus cases.
The First Minister spoke out after some 800,000 people living in the Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire areas were told not to visit other people’s homes.
The new measures – which have been put in place for the next two weeks – also mean that indoor visits to hospitals and care homes will now be limited to “essential visits”.
Ms Sturgeon, the MSP for Glasgow Southside, said she understands that people in the area are “frustrated”, but urged them to see the move as a “wake-up call”.
People are urged to observe social distancing rules (Image: PA)
Coronavirus has swept across the globe (Image: GETTY)
9.23am update: Boris accused of U-Turn
Boris Johnson has been accused of a fresh U-turn after declining to meet campaigners representing families bereaved during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Prime Minister said “of course I will meet the bereaved” when questioned last week in an interview about attempts by the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group to secure a meeting.
But the campaigners trying to secure a swift public inquiry into the Government’s handling of the crisis shared a letter from Mr Johnson in which he “regrettably” declined to meet with the group.
Campaign co-founder Jo Goodman, who lost her father Stuart to the virus, said: “It’s a U-turn followed by a U-turn.
“The Prime Minister has done a 360: dodging five letters, then agreeing on live TV to meet with us, and now quietly telling us he’s too busy. It’s heartless.”
8.39am update: Lockdown restrictions ease sparks fury
Local lockdown restrictions have been lifted in parts of northern England despite a backlash from leaders in Greater Manchester, with Mayor Andy Burnham blasting the decision as “completely illogical”.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the easing of coronavirus restrictions in Bolton and Trafford was “completely illogical”, and urged people to “continue to follow the guidance” not to have social gatherings in their home.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We find ourselves at a completely unsustainable position this morning – that’s the politest way I can put it.
“Overnight we’ve had restrictions released in two boroughs where we’ve got a rising number of cases – in one case in the red zone.
“And neighbouring boroughs are still under restrictions but with much lower numbers of cases.
“These restrictions were always hard to explain to the public but they are completely illogical now.”
8.19am update: England under pressure over quarantine rules
England is facing pressure to reconsider quarantine rules for Greece after Scotland and Wales introduced new measures over concerns about rising coronavirus cases.
The Scottish Government announced on Tuesday evening that travellers from Greece would have to self-isolate for 14 days from Thursday, while Wales also began asking arrivals from the island of Zante to begin the period of quarantine.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said no change to its rules for England had been made, but Wales’ health minister Vaughan Gething said he would be pressing the UK Government for an urgent meeting to consider the potential risk in Greece.
Global coronavirus cases mapped (Image: EXPRESS)
7.55am update: Greece going in ‘right direction’
Greece’s tourism minister Harry Theoharis has said the country has “a much lower number of infections compared to most other countries in Europe”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We’re actually in the right direction. We’re going down in terms of the average numbers.
“We’re taking specific targeted measures where we see specific concentrations of cases. Measures that have been successful and have been working in the past few days.
“So I think we’re doing everything in our power to ensure that every person that comes from the UK is kept safe in Greece.
“Of course everybody should also have some restraint, understand that this is a different summer. You mentioned it before, it’s not exactly the same like the past few years.
“We should all keep control of the situation, use our masks where it’s required, follow the rules etc in order to ensure that everybody is kept safe.”
