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Coronavirus pandemic

Over 540 people in Moscow donate blood plasma to coronavirus patients

A total of 340 patients have been infused with blood plasma

© Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

MOCSOW, May 20. /TASS/. More than 540 people in Moscow have donated blood plasma for the treatment of coronavirus patients, according to a statement published on the Moscow government's website on Wednesday.

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Russian expert sees possibility of new coronavirus strain in about decade

"Over 540 people have donated blood plasma for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in Moscow… So far, 340 patients have been infused with blood plasma, which is used, first and foremost, to help treat critical patients," the statement reads.

Experts from the Moscow Health Department believe that the use of blood plasma containing antibodies for the novel coronavirus could be an effective method to treat the infection.

A special hotline has been set up for Muscovites who have recovered from the coronavirus and wish to donate blood plasma. According to the hotline team, about 1,500 people are willing to become donors and more than 600 have already registered to give their plasma.

People aged between 18 and 55 who have recovered from COVID-19 can become blood plasma donors, provided they don’t have chronic illnesses and test negative for HIV, Hepatitis B and C. In accordance with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin’s decree, donors earn 5,000 rubles ($69) for 600 ml of plasma.

Coronavirus situation

To date, a total of 299,941 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 76,130 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates 2,837 fatalities nationwide. Moscow accounts for the majority of cases (149,607). Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.

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