Coronavirus update: No new deaths for third day in Bucks and 'game-changer' antibody test developed

Data shows that 104 people have now died with coronavirus in Buckinghamshire hospitals between 5 March – 13 May and 89 people have died in care homes in the region between 10 April – 8 May. Statistics for Buckinghamshire do not include Milton Keynes.

In another positive glimmer of light regarding reaching the end of the tunnel of this public health emergency, scientists say a reliable test for detecting antibodies has passed Public Health England's performance standards and is expected to be available in a matter of weeks.

It should be stressed that what's been developed thus far is not an immunity test. The test will say whether you have had coronavirus or not but it cannot say how high the number of antibodies are in any given person, meaning that immunity cannot be assured – further tests will need to be developed to provide better information regarding immunity.

And of course, it is still not known how long any immunity may last.

Nonetheless it is a positive first step and will certainly help scientists understand how the virus has spread and better inform decisions when the government begins to ease lockdown measures. The Prime Minister has previously described developing an antibody test as a 'game-changer'.

Across the UK, a further 428 people have been reported to have died in hospitals, care homes and the community in the past 24 hours. The total number of people who have sadly died with coronavirus in the United Kingdom is now 33,614.

Globally, 300,220 people are now known to have died with coronavirus.