Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

One in 14 Brits may have already had coronavirus

One in 14 Brits has already been infected with coronavirus, ‘hugely important’ new research suggests.
A study of more than 20,000 people across the UK found that 7.1% of the population have been infected with Sars-Cov-2 – the virus that causes Covid-19.

That means nearly 5 million people could have been infected if the findings are representative.

But rates of previous infection were found to vary significantly across different sectors of society, according to the research which measured antibodies. Antibody tests check a person’s blood for antibodies, which indicate past infection with a virus.

The major new study, aiming to examine the extent of previous infection across the country, found that infection rates varied significantly by age, region, ethnicity and deprivation.

Among participants over the age of 70, just 5.4% had positive antibody tests, compared to 10.8% of those under 30.

The rate of previous infection was higher among black (11.3%) and South Asian (9%) participants compared to white people (6.9%), according to the UK Biobank study.

Previous infection was least common among people who live in the South West of England and Scotland – where only 4.4% of the population had a positive antibody test.

But one in 10 Londoners (10.4%) has previously been infected.

People from more deprived backgrounds were also more likely to have had a previous infection of the virus, with 6.1% of the wealthiest showing a positive antibody result compared to 8.9% of the most deprived.

Researchers found no difference between men and women for previous infection rates.

But they said that for some groups, infection rates were significantly higher than the general population. For example, 18.4% of participants from ethnic minority groups who are aged under 30 and living in London have previously been infected.

The study saw blood antibody tests conducted on 20,200 people over the age of 18 – a combination of existing Biobank participants, their children and grandchildren.

Participants provided a finger prick blood sample – and they are continuing to provide samples going forwards as well as information about any symptoms as the study continues.

The samples were examined by scientists at Oxford University.

These are the first findings from the study, which will continue throughout the year.

UK Biobank principal investigator, Sir Rory Collins – BHF professor of medicine and epidemiology at Oxford University, said: ‘The extraordinary response to our request for volunteers allowed us to set up a large prospective study of Sars-CoV-2 antibody levels that is representative of the UK population.

‘It is crucial that the participants continue to send blood samples every month, to enable us to monitor changes in the rates of infection as the UK comes out of lockdown and to understand the persistence of antibodies to the coronavirus as a measure of natural immunity.’

Lord Bethell, Minister for Innovation, said: ‘This is a hugely important study, and we are incredibly grateful to the 20,000 people who have taken part or will do so in the future. The insight gained will be invaluable to help us understand how long antibodies last, any associated risk factors among different groups of people, and what this could mean for potential immunity to the virus.

‘The findings will help inform our future response to managing the pandemic, and it’s vital that we continue to drive forward such important research.’

Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government’s chief scientific adviser, said: ‘Understanding the rates of infection and the persistence of antibody levels will be helpful for managing the ongoing process of coming out of lockdown safely, as well as supporting the development of vaccines against Sars-CoV-2.’

It comes as the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBA) said it had seen an ‘overwhelming response’ from Covid-19 volunteers asked to take part in a separate new study.

NHSBA has provided a text messaging service recruiting people who tested positive for Covid-19 for a new piece of research which aims to analyse the whole genome sequences of people who have been either very severely affected by the illness, or who have had it with only mild or even no symptoms.

As a result of the text messaging service, 7,000 people have signed up to the genetic study by the University of Edinburgh with Genomics England and GenOMICC consortium.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
×