Bato tests negative for COVID-19; now a potential convalescent plasma donor

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has tested negative for the virus and is now a potential donor of convalescent plasma.

"Negative na ako [sa] swab test result. Pwede ako mag-donate ng convalescent plasma," the 58-year-old Dela Rosa said in a text message to GMA News Online on Monday.

His test result came out last Friday, he added.

Dela Rosa is the fifth Filipino senator to survive COVID-19, the others being Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators Sonny Angara, Koko Pimentel, and Bong Revilla.

Transfusion

Convalescent plasma transfusion, a still experimental treatment, involves the transfer of antibodies of those who already survived the virus to help in the recovery of other patients with severe COVID-19.

An expert panel abroad, however, said last October that pooled data from 19 studies involving more than 36,000 COVID-19 patients yielded no definitive answer yet to whether infusions of blood plasma is clinically beneficial.

Dela Rosa disclosed on November 21 that he got infected with the virus.

He was hospitalized a few days later, and was discharged on December 4 after his health condition improved. — RSJ, GMA News