Delhi gets India’s 1st plasma bank, Covid-19 tally over 92K

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Thursday, launched the country’s first plasma bank set up at the ILBS hospital and urged people to come forward to donate plasma.

Encouraging people to donate, he said, “Plasma bank will be successful when people come forward to donate plasma for patients. Those aged between 18 and 60 and weighing not less than 50 kg can donate their plasma for Covid-19 patients. However, women who have given birth and persons with comorbidities are not eligible to donate plasma,” he said.

Later in the day, Mr Kejriwal and deputy CM Manish Sisodia visited India’s first plasma bank to review its preparedness.

As many as 2,373 new cases and 61 deaths due to coronavirus were reported in the last 24 hours.

Of the total 92,175 cases in the national capital, 26,304 are active and 63,007 patients have recovered. The death count due to coronavirus stands at 2,864.

Addressing a digital press briefing, Mr Kejriwal said, “The plasma bank in Delhi is starting from Thursday. This is the first plasma bank in the country set up for the treatment of corona patients. People were finding it difficult to get plasma and the situation got quite chaotic in Delhi. We hope that the situation will improve after setting up of this plasma bank.”

Encouraging people he explained that some basic tests will be conducted at the ILBS hospital, after which plasma will be taken.

“This whole process takes only 45 minutes to one hour and not more than that. After the process is completed, you will be given a certificate of appreciation for contributing to the society,” he said.

The country’s first plasma bank will donate plasma to Covid hospitals in Delhi, which includes private, state, Central government, and MCD hospitals for treatment of patients.

Following his visit to the plasma bank, Mr Kejriwal tweeted, “Just reviewed Delhi govt’s new Plasma Bank. It is world-class and modern. Donors are being taken care of very well by the staff. I urge recovered corona patients to come forward and donate their plasma.”

Asked about an ILBS standard operating procedure (SOP) document circulating on social media, which purportedly mentions that private and corporate hospitals would have to pay `25,000 for the service, a senior official said, “It was an old SOP, and had a clerical mistake, which had been rectified. No charge will be taken from any hospital, private or government”. OF THE total 92,175 cases in the national capital, 26,304 are active and 63,007 patients have recovered. The death count due to coronavirus stands at 2,864.