Head of the National Institute of Blood Diseases Dr Shamsi has again appealed to the 6,500 people who have recovered from Pakistan’s novel coronavirus to donate their blood and help save the lives of those who have contracted the virus.

The blood disease specialist said donors in Karachi should go to the NIBD for donations in a video message released on Friday, and those in other cities should visit nearby medical facilities.

“Coronavirus infections and deaths are spiking across the country,” he said. “The greater the donors, the more will be the number of lives saved.”

Many that are actually battling the virus and in serious condition will be injected with the plasma extracted from their blood. Experts assume that the plasma contains antibodies that can help fight the infection, and that at least two patients should be injected with one healthy donor’s plasma.

This passive immunization or plasma therapy cycle officially kicked off on Wednesday when an elderly patient from Sanghar became one of Pakistan’s first trials using plasma therapy to treat COVID-19.

The therapy was given at Civil Hospital, Hyderabad. The MS hospital reported that after the plasma transfusion, the patient’s health improved.

The patient had been in critical condition prior to the operation and had difficulty breathing prior to putting him on a ventilator.