- Title: Recovered COVID-19 patients donate plasma for treatment in Argentina
- Date: 3rd July 2020
- Summary: LA PLATA, ARGENTINA (JUNE 30, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DONATING BLOOD TEXT READING (Spanish) "PLASMA ONLY" VARIOUS OF PLASMA IN BAGS DIRECTOR OF PROVINCIAL HEMOTHERAPY INSTITUTE, NORA ETCHENIQUE, SPEAKING TO BLOOD DONOR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF PROVINCIAL HEMOTHERAPY INSTITUTE, NORA ETCHENIQUE, SAYING: "In a way, what we do is passive immunization. We provide antibodies that help mitigate the virus to patients that haven't yet been able to produce those antibodies." VARIOUS OF BLOOD DONATION CENTRE WORKERS PREPARING PLASMA FOR COLD STORAGE WORKER WEIGHING BAGS WORKER PLACING BAGS IN FREEZER EZEIZA, ARGENTINA (RECENT) (REUTERS) HOSPITAL WORKERS IN HALLWAY OF INTENSIVE CARE UNIT TREATING COVID-19 PATIENTS VARIOUS OF COVID-19 PATIENT IN BED SCREEN ON VITAL SIGNS MONITOR WORKER WITH INTUBATION MATERIALS VARIOUS OF COVID-19 PATIENT
- Embargoed: 17th July 2020 15:23
- Keywords: Argentina antibodies blood coronavirus donation pandemic plasma recovered treatment
- Location: LA PLATA, BUENOS AIRES & EZEIZA, ARGENTINA
- City: LA PLATA, BUENOS AIRES & EZEIZA, ARGENTINA
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA005CL99RGN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: People who recovered from coronavirus infections in Argentina are donating plasma as part of a national clinical trial to test its effectiveness as a treatment for patients who are still sick with COVID-19.
Recovered people went to centres across the country to donate, even as winter settles on the South American nation, bringing cold and rainy weather.
"It doesn't cost a thing and you know you can do good, that's what's important in all of this," Daiana Woloszczuk, 34, said while donating plasma in the city of La Plata.
"If I can help someone else have a little bit better of a time, I welcome it."
In order to donate, a person has to be well for at least 14 days and test negative twice for coronavirus.
The treatment proved crucial for patients like Barbara Piccardi, a 31-year-old administrative employee, who was hospitalized for a month with respiratory complications due to coronavirus. When she struggled to breathe on her own, her doctors opted for plasma treatment and she recovered.
"Thanks to (the donor) and her blood, I am alive here at home today," Piccardi said.
Argentina has about 67,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 1,300 associated deaths, according to government data. At least 23,000 people have recovered.
(Production: Miguel Lo Bianco, Claudia Martini, Patrick Alwine) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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