The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has allowed Maharashtra to administer plasma therapy to COVID-19 patients in Mumbai on an experimental basis, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said. Earlier this month Maharashtra seeks permission to ICMR to start the experiment with plasma therapy.
Maharashtra had applied to the ICMR, seeking permission to try out the therapy. “We have received permission from ICMR to carry out plasma therapy on an experimental basis,” Tope said.
“The plasma (a component of blood) of those who have recovered from coronavirus infection has some antibodies. If these people’s plasma is used with utmost precaution, it has proven to be useful,” he said.
A mathematical model predicts that by the end of April 30 state will see a sudden rise in the number of cases to 42,000 “The model is based on some scientific ground but it has taken the state’s doubling rate of COVID-19 cases at 3.8. “In fact, the rate is seven today. The model also assumes that the current situation would remain constant, which is again not correct. The number of infection hotspots in the state has come down from 14 to five,” Tope informed.
The mortality rate is also falling, so people should ignore this model and not panic, Tope added.
