Reacting at US President Donald Trump's announcement of using the plasma therapy against novel COVID-19, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hailed the national capital for pulling off the successful launch of first plasma bank months before many other first world countries. ALSO READ | US Finally Approves Emergency Authorisation Of Blood Plasma As Covid-19 Treatment


Taking to his Twitter account, CM Kejriwal attached an update from news agency ANI about Trump's announcement and said, "They used to say, back in the day - what America does today, India would do tomorrow. Delhi has changed it. Now - what Delhi did yesterday, America does today. Congratulations Delhiites for achieving this for our country."


His remarks came after the Trump announced White House breakthrough on Coronavirus treatment on Sunday and authorised the use of convalescent plasma for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, claiming that it will save countless lives.

"Today I am pleased to make a truly historic announcement, in our battle against China virus, that will save countless lives. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has issued an emergency use authorisation for a treatment known as convalescent plasma," Trump said.

He further informed that around 48 million dollars were provided to fund the Mayo clinic study that tested the efficacy of convalescent plasma for patients with the virus.

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The convalescent plasma therapy is a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccine were developed. It is rich in antibodies that could be helpful in fighting the Coronavirus, but the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it, and what dose is needed.

The US announcement on the use of Plasma therapy has come months after India gave it a green signal. India has been using plasma therapy for the last two months in the treatment of critical cases, but only on a research basis.

The health ministry has said that Plasma therapy is not an approved treatment for COVID-19 and is only one of the several therapies which is being explored currently.