The US administration on Sunday announced an emergency authorisation for doctors to use blood plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients for the treatment against the disease in the country. The pandemic has killed over 176,000 people in the US. The move by the Food and Drug Administration came, as the coronavirus pandemic rages across the country and US President Donald Trump faces intense pressure to curb the contagion.

“This product may be effective in treating COVID-19 and… the known and potential benefits of the product outweigh the known and potential risks of the product,” FDA said in a statement. The plasma of the recovered patients is believed to have the antibodies that can help fight off the COVID-19 disease faster and help protect people from being seriously ill.

Trump told reporters the therapy shows “an incredible rate of success” and “will save countless lives”.

The FDA already allowed convalescent plasma transfusions for coronavirus patients under certain conditions, such as clinical trials and gravely ill people. The Washington Post said that over 70,000 virus patients in the US have received such a transfusion.

The US President has been widely criticised for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in the country, which remains the world’s worst-hit in infections and fatalities.

He faces a re-election battle against Democratic challenger Joe Biden, with no effective treatment or vaccine expected before the vote on November 3.