BEIJING — Convalescent plasma therapy has proved to be effective on severe cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a Chinese official said on Feb 21.

More than 100 patients who have recovered from COVID-19 have donated plasma and the plasma can be prepared into therapeutic products to treat 240 patients with severe and critical symptoms, said Xu Nanping, vice minister of Science and Technology, at a press conference in Beijing.

The therapy so far proves effective on the patients, said Xu.

He added that it will be further applied to patients with severe and critical symptoms, as well as patients with rapid onset of COVID-19.

A total of 20 teams has been sent to 11 provinces with more recovered patients to collect convalescent plasma.