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Scientists who infected monkeys with the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 have found that those that recovered developed effective immunity from the disease – a potentially important discovery in the race to develop a vaccine.

But the researchers also found that the animals could become infected through their eyes, which means wearing a face mask may not be enough to protect people from the disease.

Scientists around the world have been racing to develop a vaccine and the first clinical trials could be held in China and the US within a month.

But a number of cases, where people who had tested negative for the disease and were discharged from hospital only to give a positive result a few days later, have cast doubt on the process.

Rhesus monkeys were infected with Covid-19 as part of the experiment.

Scientists who infected monkeys with the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 have found that those that recovered developed effective immunity from the disease – a potentially important discovery in the race to develop a vaccine.

But the researchers also found that the animals could become infected through their eyes, which means wearing a face mask may not be enough to protect people from the disease.

Scientists around the world have been racing to develop a vaccine and the first clinical trials could be held in China and the US within a month.

But a number of cases, where people who had tested negative for the disease and were discharged from hospital only to give a positive result a few days later, have cast doubt on the process.

The rate of reoccurrence ranged from 0.1 to 1 per cent nationwide, according to China’s state media reports. However, in some provinces such as Guangdong up to 14 per cent of the discharged patients had reportedly returned to hospital because of the test results.

If it turns out that these patients had been reinfected by the same virus, then vaccines will not prove effective.

But the monkey experiment carried out by a team from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences may help dispel that fear.