Virus patient given blood plasma, improves quickly

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - A New Hampshire man who was near death from the coronavirus has recovered after being given blood plasma from a former virus patient and is scheduled to be released Wednesday after more than six weeks in the hospital.

Joseph Jozitis was admitted to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua on April 3 and placed on a ventilator, but his condition deteriorated, hospital officials said. The hospital had joined a nationwide trial with the Mayo Clinic to study the effects of plasma treatment on COVID-19 patients. Jozitis was given the plasma from a patient who recovered and developed antibodies.

He improved and was able to breathe on his own, said Dr. Timothy Scherer, chief medical officer.

THE NUMBERS

As of Tuesday, 4,231 people had tested positive for the virus in New Hampshire, an increase of 34 from the previous day. Four new deaths, all at long-term care facilities, were announced, bringing the total to 214.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.