Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus stimulates a rapid antibody response in people with symptomatic and asymptomatic infection. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a population can serve as a useful measure of exposure and spread.To help plan key aspects of the public health response (e.g., shielding; eventual vaccination implementation strategies), decision-makers need regularly updated data on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 infection (and potential immunity) in the community. The rationale is that serial longitudinal seroepidemiological surveys can help to quantify and monitor the proportion of the population that has antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, providing information on the proportion of the population exposed and the cumulative incidence of infection in the population. Hence, there is a strategic need for data from serial sero-survey studies of SARS-CoV-2 in UK.

To provide scientists and national decision-makers with detailed information to help control and understand the novel coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”), this study aims to track up to 90,000 individuals across England during the coming the year or so. Individuals who participated in the INTERVAL, COMPARE or STRIDES BioResource studies will be invited to take part.

The TRACK-COVID study is being conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge to investigate why some people have symptoms of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 virus) and others don’t will help to determine the extent of infection in the general population as well as it will help to design new ways to prevent and treat such infections.

The aim of this research is to determine risk factors for infection of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The secondary aim to investigate why some people who carry the virus are symptomatic while others never are.

The research will provide a better understanding of the biological and environmental determinants of COVID-19 virus.