A therapy for the novel coronavirus that involves the plasma of recovered patients has started to show effects, according to Zhang Dingyu, president of Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, a major battleground for the outbreak.

The plasma contains large volumes of antibodies for the deadly pathogen, Zhang told a daily news conference late on Thursday.

He pleaded to recovered patients to donate blood to the benefit of all.

In the latest guideline over the diagnosis and treatment of the virus, issued Feb 5, the top health authorities said plasma of recovered patients could be employed to fight the disease.

More than 10 severe coronavirus patients have received the plasma therapy at a hospital in Wuhan since Feb 8. Within 12 to 24 hours of the therapy, patients have seen a decline in indicators of inflammation and a hike in lymphocytes, among other favorable turns.