Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced the first plasma bank in the country for the novel Coronavirus patients in the city and urged the COVID survivors to come forward and donate plasma to save lives.

Addressing a virtual press conference, Kejriwal said, "Today I am announcing the plasma bank in Delhi. Plasma bank will solve the problems of COVID-19 patients."

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener said the plasma bank will become a success if the people who have got treated from the COVID-19 come forward and donate.

Kejriwal also launched the helpline number to register names for plasma donation. He said, "Those who want to donate can call directly on 1031 or WhatsApp on 8800007722 and the hospital will get in touch with you."

The Chief Minister said that the patients who were treated from COVID-19 and have completed 14 days after their treatment are eligible for donating plasma. He said that the people who want to donate must be between 18 and 60 age groups, must have weight more than 50 kg.

Kejriwal further said that cancer survivors, females who have undergone pregnancy, people with diabetics and taking insulin, people with hypertension or high blood pressure ailments, people with kidney, heart and lung disease cannot be a plasma donor.

"But the people who don't have these symptoms and have been treated fully should come forward and donate plasma to save lives," Kejriwal said.

"Very few get the chance to save lives of others, so please come forward and donate," Kejriwal said, adding that plasma donation does not make people physically weak and it takes just an hour to do it.

The AAP leader further said that the death rate which was high in the national capital a fortnight ago with 100 plus fatalities has come down to half. "Now on an average over 60 to 65 fatalities are there, which a fortnight ago was over 100 to 120," Kejriwal said.

He said that till the time vaccine is not ready, plasma is more helpful for treating COVID patients.

He also said that many other states are using plasma therapy to treat COVID-19 patients.

In Delhi, two thousand 373 new confirmed cases of Coronavirus were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 92,175.

The Delhi Government has confirmed that over 63 thousand people affected with Coronavirus have been cured so far.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today chaired a meeting through video conferencing to review the COVID19 situation in Delhi-NCR.

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attended the meeting. Senior officials of the Home Ministry and Health Ministry also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Mr. Shah emphasized on adoption of more testing using Rapid Antigen Test Kits to help reduce the infection transmission rate. He said these kits can be provided by the Government of India to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The Home Minister also focused on early hospitalization to reduce mortality rates.

He also focused on the extensive use of the Aarogya Setu and Itihaas App to help the mapping of COVID in NCR.

Mr. Shah said Uttar Pradesh and Haryana can avail AIIMS-Telemedicine consultation through which patients will get advice from experts. He said small hospitals in both states can take guidance from AIIMS through Tele-Videography.

On 18th June, Mr. Shah had reviewed the COVID 19 situation in Delhi NCR with Mr. Kejriwal and senior officials of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Shah had emphasized on the need to have a unified strategy in the Delhi-NCR region to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The total confirmed cases in the National Capital has reached 89,802.

Source; IANS