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2019-nCoV Corona Virus Blood Test Concept
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KoCo19: Shedding Light on How SARS-CoV-2 Is Spreading in Munich

New Research Findings,

Starting in April a large-scale sample analysis called KoCo19 ("Prospective COVID-19 Cohort Munich") will be carried out to investigate the spread of the corona pandemic and the effectiveness of countermeasures in the Munich area. The study will be carried out by an alliance of Munich research institutions including Helmholtz Zentrum München and will be led by the Tropical Institute of LMU Klinikum. It covers around 3,000 randomly selected households with people of all age groups.

The availability of a large amount of relevant and reliable data is the basis of scientific research. To create a feasible data base for the current corona pandemic, scientists will be collecting data about the spread pattern of SARS-CoV-2 in Munich in the upcoming months. Using antibody-based tests, they will examine how many people have already been infected with the virus without knowing it. This is critical information as they too can transmit SARS-CoV-2 and thus spread the COVID-19 disease. Participants of the study will also be asked to keep a diary about their symptoms, travels and contacts. This information will be used to track infection patterns within the members of a household. The study can also help to better assess the effectiveness of current countermeasures to contain the virus (e.g. social distancing or movement restrictions). KoCo19 can thus contribute towards fact-based political decision-making during the corona pandemic.

The study is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and Art, the LMU Klinikum and Helmholtz Zentrum München. The results are regularly discussed in an advisory committee including the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and Art, the Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care, the Department of Health and Environment of the City of Munich, the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München.

“This joint study, which is driven in part by our most talented people in artificial intelligence and epidemiology, showcases the strength of one united Munich health research”, said Prof. Dr. med. Matthias Tschöp, CEO at Helmholtz Zentrum München.

<link www.lmu-klinikum.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/munchner-tropeninstitut-beginnt-stichprobenanalyse-zur-verbreitung-der-corona-pandemie-und-zur-wirksamkeit-von-gegenmassnahmen/6afa2c06cb6745a9 - extern>Read the full press release at the Tropical Institute of LMU Klinikum</link>

<link www.youtube.com/watch - extern>Press conference with Bavarian Prime Minister Dr. Markus Söder and Prof. Dr. Ulrike Protzer</link>