Matt Hancock makes public plea for YOU to do your bit and join coronavirus antibodies test study

MATT Hancock has tonight made a desperate public plea for Brits to sign up to a "vital" coronarvirus antibodies study.

Up to 300,000 people will be offered home-testing kits to help track the spread of the outbreak which has so far killed 18,738 people in the UK.

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Officials will contact 20,000 households in England to take part in a pioneering year-long study.

And tonight, the Health Secretary told the nation to “take part in vital research for your country”.

He said 25,000 people will take part in the first phase and revealed there are plans to expand to 300,000 in the next 12 months.

Mr Hancock said: “Participants will provide regular samples and take swabs.

VITAL RESEARCH

“We'll use these tests to strengthen our scientific understanding and inform us on big choices we have to make about social distancing, and how we start returning to a more normal life.

“Letters are arriving on doorsteps from today.

“Please if you are asked: take part in this vital research for your country.

Please if you are asked: take part in this vital research for your country.

Matt Hancock

“The early signs from today are that there is huge enthusiasm for those who have received letters in this survey.

“If you get a letter, please respond to it as soon as you can because you will be doing your bit.”

Participants will be tested for the killer bug every week for a month by a trained nurse.

They will then provide a monthly swab for the rest of the trial.

DEADLY BUG

As well as checking Brits for current infection, around 2,000 adults will also provide a blood sample to screen for antibodies against the disease.

The tests will help reveal the true scale and spread of the outbreak – with the first results expected in early May.

Scientists said the trial will help “transform our understanding” of the infection.

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Participants will provide samples taken from self-administered nose and throat swabs and answer a few short questions during a home visit by a trained health worker.

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

Mr Hancock previously said: “This survey will help to track the current extent of transmission and infection in the UK, while also answering crucial questions about immunity as we continue to build up our understanding of this new virus.

“Together, these results will help us better understand the spread of the virus to date, predict the future trajectory and inform future action we take, including crucially the development of ground-breaking new tests and treatments.”