Around nine in 10 adults in most parts of the UK are now likely to have Covid-19 antibodies, new figures suggest. The estimates range from 87.2% in Northern Ireland to 89.8% in England and 91.8% in Wales.
In Scotland the estimate is lower and is closer to eight in 10 adults, or 84.7%. The presence of coronavirus antibodies suggests someone has had the infection in the past or has been vaccinated.
It takes between two and three weeks after infection or vaccination for the body to make enough antibodies to fight the virus.
Antibodies then remain in the blood at low levels, although these levels can decline over time to the point that tests can no longer detect them.