Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday launched convalescent plasma therapy-cum-trial project for treatment of critical COVID-19 patients with a state medical education department official calling it the largest initiative of its kind in the world.
Convalescent plasma therapy, also called passive antibody therapy, seeks to obtain plasma from the blood of people who have recovered from the infection to inject into patients undergoing treatment.
“The project, titled ‘Platina’, is the largest convalescent plasma therapy-cum-trial project in the world. With it, we intend to save lives of some 500 critical COVID-19 patients. The trial will be held in 17 medical colleges under the department of medical education and drugs, and four BMC-run colleges in Mumbai,” the official said.
All critical patients will receive two doses of 200 ml convalescent plasma free of cost, he added.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday also announced setting up of a ‘plasma bank’ to save lives of serious COVID-19 patients in the national capital.
Addressing an online media briefing, the chief minister said the bank will start working in the next two days, adding that the AAP government will encourage those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma.
The chief minister said that a helpline will be set up by the government for queries related to donation of plasma.
Kejriwal said that his government has so far conducted clinical trial of plasma therapy on 29 COVID-19 patients and the result was “encouraging”.
The chief minister also announced that a sum of Rs one crore will be given to the family of LNJP Dr Aseem Gupta, who died due to COVID-19.
The 52-year-old doctor served in the front line of the war against the pandemic at the government facility, and died of novel coronavirus infection in an ICU of a private hospital on Sunday.
Maharashtra lockdown to continue till July 31
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Monday extended its state-wide lockdown till July 31 even as Covid-19 cases crossed the 1.64-lakh mark, including nearly 7,500 fatalities.
Titled “Mission Begin Again”, the guidelines state movement for non-essential activities will be restricted within the neighbourhoods in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
An order issued by Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta said private offices can operate with up to 10 per cent strength or 10 people whichever is more.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Sunday ruled out lifting lockdown curbs completely beyond June 30, but said more relaxations would be offered to the people eventually.
The Mumbai Police on Sunday said it would will seize all privately-owned vehicles that are found to have travelled beyond a 2-km radius from the houses of the owners for purposes other than going to office or availing medical services during emergencies.
