Plasma therapy 'a ray of hope' for seriously-ill COVID-19 patients, says Delhi CM

DELHI chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday (24) said that plasma therapy provides a ray of hope to seriously-ill COVID-19 patients.

The Indian capital has conducted plasma therapy trial on four COVID-19 patients. Kejriwal said that the test has yielded 'very encouraging' initial results.

In the plasma therapy, antibodies from the blood of a patient who has recovered from COVID-19 are used to treat serious patients.

The chief minister said more clinical trials of plasma therapy will take place over the next two-three days, and his government will seek the centre's nod next week for using the technique on all seriously ill COVID-19 patients in the city-state.

"Ten days ago, we had got permission from the central government to conduct clinical trial of plasma therapy only on four serious COVID-19 patients admitted at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital," Kejriwal said.

"The initial results are every encouraging and good. It gives a ray of hope to save people's lives from coronavirus."

The four patients who were given plasma therapy have shown improvement in their health condition, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation, Kejriwal revealed.

Two of the four patients, whose condition was serious, have now been shifted to general ward from the ICU and two others are also responding well, he said.

According to Kejriwal these are only initial results not an 'ultimate' remedy for COVID-19.

The chief minister appealed to all people who have recovered from the disease to come forward and donate plasma for serious COVID-19 patients to save their lives.

"I appeal to you (who have recovered from COVID-19) with folded hands to come forward and donate your plasma. Your plasma will be given to only serious patients. You can save their lives,'' he said.