6 recovered patients set to donate blood

AS 28 more patients infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) were discharged from hospitals in Shanghai yesterday, six of them volunteered to donate their blood.

“Before leaving the hospital, a nurse asked me if I was willing to donate my blood for the treatment and research of the disease. I thought it was a great chance to help others after being helped,” said a blood donor named Liu.

“Now that I’m recovered, my blood could contain antibodies that might be helpful for those in serious condition,” he said.

As of yesterday, a total of 90 coronavirus patients had been discharged from Shanghai hospitals.

“We call on cured patients to donate blood a few weeks after they check out from hospitals, which can save more people,” said Lu Hongzhou, secretary of the Party Committee of the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center.

China National Biotec Group said it has developed convalescent plasma to treat patients who are infected with COVID-19.

The company said it has collected plasma from some recovered patients to prepare therapeutic products, including convalescent plasma and immune globulin.

After strict blood biosafety tests, virus inactivation and antiviral activity tests, they have successfully developed convalescent plasma for clinical treatment and have used it to treat critically ill patients.

The company has set up a team to use special equipment to collect plasma from recovered patients in Wuhan since January 20.

(Xinhua)