New Zealand-born YouTuber Karl Rock donated plasma to Delhi hospital
New Delhi:
Karl Rock, a New Zealand video recorder who has lived in India for three years, was praised by Delhi’s chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, after donating plasma to help critically ill coronavirus patients in the nation’s capital.
Responding to the video, Kejriwal said, “Karl Rock, a Delhiite of New Zealand descent, has donated plasma. You should watch his video about his experience.”
Mr. Rock replied: “Wah, Arvind Kejriwal called me Delhiite … such an honor. “
The popular YouTuber, who has recovered from the virus, has released a short video describing his experience at the “world class” Institute for Liver and Biliary Sciences in South Delhi. He also urged those who have recovered to make a donation “to help their Indian compatriots”.
“Namaste friends. Now you know I had a crown. And there is an advantage in being able to donate plasma to help the really sick … those who are in critical condition. So as soon as I heard (the) chief minister of Delhi opening a plasma bank, I called him and signed up, “said Karl Rock in his video.
“It is a privilege to be able to donate plasma and help other people, to help my fellow Indian people,” he added, reminding viewers, “Plasma therapy is the best treatment for COVID- 19 that we currently have. “
Wah @ArvindKejriwal called me a Delhite … Such an honor ???? https://t.co/5JNmv59leR
– Karl Rock (@iamkarlrock) July 10, 2020
In the nine-minute video, he takes viewers on a brief tour of southern Delhi, including Khan Market and outside the residences of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the late Jawaharlal Nehru.
At Vasant Kunj’s ILBS in Delhi, Mr. Rock interacts with hospital staff in Hindi. He describes his symptoms as medical staff prepare him to donate plasma.
“The needle is in place but I really don’t feel anything. So even if you are afraid of needles, don’t worry. You can’t feel anything except a slight puncture at the start,” he reassures.
After the donation, which lasts about an hour, Mr. Rock and the other donators receive a sandwich and a packet of coconut water as a refreshment and a thank you certificate signed by Arvind Kejriwal.
“It feels good to help,” he said, adding, “You can donate if your test is positive and it’s been over two weeks since you recovered.”
The nation’s capital, the most affected metro city and the third most affected region in the country, opened India’s first plasma bank this month.
Plasma therapy involves the transfusion of plasma from a convalescent coronavirus patient to a critical patient. The blood of a convalescent patient is rich in antibodies which should help the critical patient to recover.
Delhi has almost 1.10 lakh of confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which more than 21,000 are still active. 3,300 deaths have been linked to the infectious virus.
Across India, more than 8.2 lakh cases have been detected and more than 22,000 deaths have been reported.
