Bristol scientists studying coronavirus to understand the virus

Scientists at a laboratory in Bristol are growing multiple forms of coronavirus in a bid to understand it better.

The researchers are growing the virus - including Covid-19, the strain linked to the recent outbreak - at their high containment laboratory at the University of Bristol.

The team hopes that by studying live forms of the virus it will gain a better understanding of how it spreads and how it causes sickness.

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Scientist Dr Andrew Davidson said they are laying the groundwork for other researchers to develop a vaccine and test anti-viral treatments.

The laboratory was reportedly one of the first in the UK to start working with live forms of the virus.

Good Morning Britain reporter Richard Gaisford was given access to the site on Monday 9 March 2020. He said live samples of Covid-19 were removed prior to his visit because it was deemed “too hazardous”.