Delhi will continue with plasma therapy: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the city's healthcare professionls will continue to use plasma therapy on coronavirus patients in Delhi as it has approval from the Centre and also it had showed positive results in several critical patients.

Kejriwal said a few statements on behalf of the Union government had led the people to believe that the plasma therapy will be halted in Delhi.

"The Union government said that only the states permitted by it should conduct the plasma therapy trials. The results of the therapy are not final; these results are just based on trials. Initial results are satisfactory and we hope that this technique can be treated as a sustainable solution for the future. We will continue trial of plasma therapy."

Addressing the media, Kejriwal said that of the 3,515 coronavirus cases in Delhi, 1,100 patients have recovered and since discharged from hospitals. Kejriwal said 59 people have lost their lives, whereas there are 2,362 active cases in Delhi.

"The testing rate in Delhi has increased and 2,300 tests per million people conducted, as against a national average of 500 tests per million people," the Chief Minister said.

He said: "We have decided to increase corona tests in Delhi to monitor those who have been infected and treat them thereafter." It will ensure prevention of the spread of coronavirus from infected people, the Chief Minister added.

"We are taking all possible steps to stop the spread of coronavirus. We have created containment zones, where we have taken specific measures to redress the situation. We have also deployed machinery for sanitisation," he added.

Kejriwal said that the initial results of plasma therapy are positive.

"We got permission for plasma therapy trial by the central government in the Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan Hospital. The first patient given the therapy was in the ICU but has since recovered and discharged on Thursday because of the therapy," he said.

Kejriwal said the government is contacting recovered patients, and almost everyone of these is ready to donate their plasma.

The Chief Minister said that the Delhi government is trying its best to provide relief to the people who have been majorly affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

He said that the quantity of ration provided per month will be doubled and kits with essential items will be given to all PDS cardholders and non-cardholders. (IANS) 

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