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UK Volunteers Are Being Paid £3,500 So Scientists Can Infect Them With COVID-19 To Develop Cure


As many as 24 human guinea pigs will be paid £3,500 to take participate in the trial which will see them infected with the deadly coronavirus and banned from physical contact with the outside world for two weeks.

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As reported in The Times, Those taking who will take part in this experiment will be held in a special quarantine lab in east London owned by medical testing company Hvivo.

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Scientists are working round the clock to develop a vaccine by next winter to protect the people who have underlying health conditions and the elderly.

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As of this writing, more than 2 million dollars have been invested worldwide and a total of  20 firms and public sector organisations are taking part on the global effort to develop a cure.

© The Daily Mirror

Earlier this week, Boris Johnson reported to have pledged £46 million (approximately $60 million) for research into a coronavirus vaccine and rapid diagnostic tests.

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The Prime Minister announced the funding during a tour of a Bedfordshire laboratory, where British scientists are working on a quick and cheap way to diagnose coronavirus.

© MSN

According to Mr. Johnson, there is currently no vaccine available to protect the people against the deadly Covid-19, but he is hoping that one will be ready in about a year.

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Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor has previously said the United Kingdom will not have a vaccine available for the first wave of a pandemic, but that it is still important to develop one for any future pandemic waves.

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© Getty Images

Global human trials of eight possible vaccines could start later this year. But firms would then face the task of mass-producing and distributing them.

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Public Health England (PHE) has developed methods of testing for coronavirus, but more rapid diagnostic tests are needed as these currently rely on samples being sent to a lab.

© Newshub

According to Downing Street, the United Kingdom’s investment into the coronavirus vaccine research is now worth £65 million ($85 million), with £91 million ($119 million) in total for international work to prevent the spread of the virus.

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