Could exposure to the coronaviruses that cause the common cold help protect against Covid-19? Is herd immunity closer than previously thought?

As nations lift lockdowns and experts worry about a potential second peak in cases, our ability to ward off infection is one of the hottest topics of scientific debate.

Earlier this month, an American study in the journal Cell suggested between 40 and 60 per cent of the population could be immunised against Covid-19 without ever being exposed to it.

Researchers put this down to the action of protective cells, known as T lymphocytes, that had been activated by other coronaviruses responsible for colds.

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