This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
US Approves Plasma Therapy to Treat COVID-19 as Global Death Toll Surpasses 800,000 ¶
On August 24, 2020, the United States announced an emergency authorization to use blood plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients as a treatment for the disease, which has claimed over 800,000 lives worldwide.
The move comes as governments around the world are ramping up efforts to contain the deadly coronavirus pandemic, with many countries reimposing lockdowns and tightening border restrictions.
According to the World Health Organization, the virus has infected over 24 million people globally, with the United States being the hardest-hit country, accounting for over 176,000 fatalities.
US President Donald Trump has been under intense pressure to curb the contagion, and in a press conference, he claimed that the plasma therapy shows 'an incredible rate of success' and 'will save countless lives.'
However, experts have warned that the extent of its effectiveness is still being debated, and some have cautioned that it could carry side effects.
As the pandemic continues to ravage the world, new cases and outbreaks are being reported daily, with countries like New Zealand, Finland, Norway, and South Korea imposing strict measures to contain the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, the global economy has been severely impacted, with policies to reduce the high risk of transmission in large groups of people affecting everything from sport and religious services to music concerts and elections.
As the world waits for a vaccine or effective treatments, social distancing measures remain among the few weapons against the virus.
