![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2020/04/24/2901f28799394bbe80ae3f019a989cd4.jpg)
A serviceman works at a drive-through facility in Chessington, Britain, on April 23, 2020. As of Thursday morning, 138,078 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, marking a daily increase of 4,583, the Department of Health and Social Care said Thursday. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)
Led by the department and the Office for National Statistics, the study draws on the world-leading scientific expertise of the University of Oxford, backed by the proven testing capabilities of data science company IQVIA UK and the National Biosample Centre in Milton Keynes.
Participants in the study will form a representative sample of the entire British population by age and geography. The results will help scientists and the government in the ongoing response to the coronavirus outbreak, with initial findings expected to be available in early May, according to the department.
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2020/04/24/25bbc30421f742c4aecaabf61b4a7b13.jpg)
A serviceman works at a drive-through facility in Chessington, Britain, on April 23, 2020. As of Thursday morning, 138,078 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, marking a daily increase of 4,583, the Department of Health and Social Care said Thursday. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2020/04/24/235236a310bc471d82e981d5ce1d8e93.jpg)
A serviceman works at a drive-through facility in Chessington, Britain, on April 23, 2020. As of Thursday morning, 138,078 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, marking a daily increase of 4,583, the Department of Health and Social Care said Thursday. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2020/04/24/201275332a024cc9a36e27c63d80abf6.jpg)
A serviceman works at a drive-through facility in Chessington, Britain, on April 23, 2020. As of Thursday morning, 138,078 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, marking a daily increase of 4,583, the Department of Health and Social Care said Thursday. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2020/04/24/2f7994ac05bf450e9a1a4639a811e1ad.jpg)
A serviceman is seen at a drive-through facility in Chessington, Britain, on April 23, 2020. As of Thursday morning, 138,078 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, marking a daily increase of 4,583, the Department of Health and Social Care said Thursday. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2020/04/24/a76a18fcf01c40c2a07c772b5fd93871.jpg)
A serviceman works at a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility in Southport, Britain, on April 23, 2020. As of Thursday morning, 138,078 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, marking a daily increase of 4,583, the Department of Health and Social Care said Thursday. (Photo by Jon Super/Xinhua)
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2020/04/24/5db5a1db12a44083ab1ab1d19f87980d.jpg)
A serviceman works at a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility in Southport, Britain, on April 23, 2020. As of Thursday morning, 138,078 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, marking a daily increase of 4,583, the Department of Health and Social Care said Thursday. (Photo by Jon Super/Xinhua)