Here’s what to know today

As more people around the world are sickened by the coronavirus, there haven’t been many silver linings. For most people who have been infected, treatment is limited.

Recently, though, a sliver of hope has emerged in the form of plasma from the blood of coronavirus survivors, which, as my colleague Denise Grady reported, can be a “rich source of antibodies.”

So-called convalescent plasma has long been used to treat other infectious diseases, including Ebola, and while it’s still very much unproven for treating coronavirus, doctors say it’s worth trying now.

[Read more about how blood plasma treatment works and why experts are hopeful.]

“There are multiple benefits to think about, and since this is not a drug that needs to be manufactured, it could be obtained easily,” said Dr. Timothy Byun, a hematologist and oncologist who directs cancer research at St. Joseph Hospital Orange. “This could really be an exciting treatment if it works.”

The Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that the agency would lead an effort to speed up the development of blood-related treatments. The agency has partnered with the American Red Cross to set up a kind of clearinghouse to match eligible plasma donors who have recovered from the virus with patients who need care.