Hopes were last night growing that a new coronavirus antibody test could pave the way for an end to lockdown and a return to work for millions of Brits.
Health chiefs have approved a check developed by Swiss drugs giant Roche that is 100% accurate in detecting those who have had the disease, which may have given them immunity.
Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said frontline NHS and care workers will have first access to the checks, which are to be rolled out “in the days and weeks to come”.
And the potential “game-changer” came as scientists from Manchester University claimed more than 19million people may have already been infected and recovered.