British volunteers to be infected with coronavirus amid scramble to develop vaccine

‘Volunteers from the UK are set to be deliberately infected with coronavirus as scientists race to develop a cure for the deadly disease.

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

Those taking part will be held in a special quarantine lab in east London owned by medical testing company Hvivo, according toThe Times.

Scientists are aiming to develop a vaccine by next winter to protect the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

A total of 20 firms and public sector organisations are taking part the a global effort to develop a cure, with more than $2bn (£1.53bn) invested worldwide so far.

Earlier this week, Boris Johnson pledged a further £46 million for research into a coronavirus vaccine and rapid diagnostic tests.

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.

There is currently no vaccine available to protect people against Covid-19, but Mr Johnson said he hoped one will be ready in about a year.’