About 6 percent of the English now have antibodies against the coronavirus. Researchers state this after a blood test in about 100,000 people.

According to the large-scale study by Imperial College in London, approximately 3.4 million British people have antibodies against the coronavirus. They likely had a coronavirus infection before the end of June, the university said.

The scientists emphasize that much is still unknown about the virus, such as whether having antibodies protects against future infections.

According to the study, the percentage of individuals with antibodies is exceptionally high in London, where 13 percent of people tested positive for antibodies.

Young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 tested positive (8 percent) more than twice as often as those with a retirement age between 65 and 74 years (3 percent). Health workers and immigrants are also hit harder than average.

The percentage for employees in nursing homes with patient contact was 16 percent. In people with black skin colour, 17 percent had antibodies.