Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said initial results of plasma therapy trial conducted on four Covid-19 patients is encouraging and provides hope of saving people’s lives from the dreaded disease.
On online media briefing, Kejriwal said that the government will conduct more clinical trials of plasma therapy in the next two-three days.
He was joined with S K Sarin, the director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Science, at the press conference.
“Four patients who underwent plasma therapy at Delhi’s Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital have showed “positive” results’, stated by Dr SK Sarin, Director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Science (LBS).
The chief minister articulated hope that the Union government will give a seal of approval to use the therapy on all serious Covid-19 patients across the city.
The plasma therapy trials for coronavirus disease patients commenced on Tuesday. The treatment makes use of antibody-rich plasma (a blood component) taken from those who have recuperated from the infection to treat critical patients.
The four patients who underwent a plasma therapy have shown amelioration in their health condition, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation.
Although he said that these are only inceptive results and nobody should conjecture that the government has found a remedy for coronavirus.
Kejriwal said, “Once we get nod from the Centre, we’ll be able to use plasma therapy on all serious COVID-19 patients across Delhi. I reiterate that this is early result which is very encouraging. We must not think that we have found a cure for COVID-19.”
“In the previous few days, we’ve tried plasma therapy on four patients at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital. Till now the results are encouraging,” said CM Kejriwal.Further he added that Centre has given consent for limited trials.
“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.
The chief minister urged to all people who have pulled through the disease to come ahead 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 return forward and donate your plasma. Your plasma will be given to only serious patients. You can save their lives,” he said.
S K Sarin said that if 10 to 20 COVID-19 patients are treated using plasma therapy, it could be esteemed a good lead.
“Plasma therapy is an old technique which is getting used for several years . As we don’t have a cure for coronavirus, it is useful for serious COVID-19 patients,” he said.
Sarin said that donating plasma would be an act of patriotism by recovered patientsit. It does not lead to any weakness in the body of the donor, he said.
“It isn’t blood donation…Plasma therapy is additionally inexpensive,” he said.
Kejriwal said , “The initial results are every encouraging and good. It gives a ray of hope to save people’s lives from coronavirus”.
‘Delhi authorities will contact recovered patients by phone and arrange transportation”, he said.
On Thursday, the total number of coronavirus cases in the nation stood at 2,376, with 128 new cases and two fresh deaths reported in a day.
Out of 50 mortalities reported till Thursday, 27 of the departed were aged 60 years and above, forming over 52 percent of fatalities.
