Punjab to set up plasma bank as COVID-19 cases spike

The state recorded 1,924 new cases and fifty deaths in the past ten days

36-Captain-Amarinder-Singh Captain Amarinder Singh | Arvind Jain

Owing to rapid spread of coronavirus in the state, the Punjab government has decided to set up a plasma bank to facilitate plasma therapy. The state has registered 1,924 new COVID-19 cases and fifty deaths in the past ten days.

The plasma therapy is already being carried out as an ICMR trial project in the state’s government hospitals. Now, the state plans to set up this bank under the supervision and guidance of Dr Neelam Marwaha, former head of blood bank and transfusion medicine, who is already guiding the plasma therapy trials.

“The plasma bank would serve as a ready inventory source for seriously ill patients or those at risk of severe disease, and thus will enable a wider range of adults to be treated with convalescent plasma. In total, 15 patients have been recruited for the trial, of whom eight were given plasma and the rest had been placed in control arm as per randomisation by the ICMR. Five patients have recovered completely and shall be discharged soon. A total of 11 donors have donated plasma so far of the 300 recovered patients,” said Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Ever since the unlocking, the state has registered a steady increase in COVID-19 cases. Punjab on Thursday registered 234 cases in the past 24 hours taking the total tally till date to 7140, while causality toll has reached 183. The state has 2012 active cases.

The state government is also set to launch antigen testing in the five most affected districts from Friday. The testing will start on pilot basis in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, and Patiala districts.

Rattled by the increased number of cases, the state government has appealed to all political parties to avoid large gatherings or any similar action that may lead to virus spread. The recent protest by opposition SAD was widely criticised over lack of social distancing. 

Meanwhile, DGP Dinkar Gupta said the police had registered cases against some of the political parties for violation of COVID-19 safety norms. Worried over 11 PCS and other senior officers, including CMO Sangrur, judges etc testing positive, the state shall issue administrative SOPs to safeguard critically low manpower.