The island is to begin carrying out antibody tests.

Health Minister David Ashford announced yesterday (Monday) that the Henry Bloom Noble Trust will cover the cost of 10,000 tests.

’We have access to a verified antibody tests and we will be beginning to roll out a programme of testing to see how widespread Covid-19 has been,’ he said.

Antibody tests prove someone has previously had coronavirus and are carried out by taking a blood sample.

’One of the things we know about Covid-19 is that it affects people differently,’ the Health Minister said.

’There are many people who show either no symptoms or very minor symptoms and they dismiss those symptoms as being something else.

’Antibody testing will allow us to look at how widespread Covid-19 has been throughout our wider community.’

He emphasised that the antibody tests do not mean that person is immune or cannot get Covid-19 again.

The following groups will be tested first: All hospital attendees through the emergency department who would already be having a blood test; all blood test referrals via a GP and hospital outpatients, including paediatrics; testing close contact and high risk contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases; blood donors; antenatal patients undergoing routine blood tests; healthcare workers, including primary care and communities.

A random sample of Covid 111 callers who did not test positive for the virus will also be selected.