Coronavirus Watch: Centuries-old therapy could be a treatment answer

Perhaps it's not as glamorous as hydroxychloroquine or remdesivir. It's an old scientific tool introduced in the 19th century, but it's being considered as an experimental treatment for COVID-19.

Here's everything you need to know about plasma therapy and why it's showing promise as a treatment.

This is Monday's Coronavirus Watch newsletter from the Paste BN Network. Here's the most significant news of the day, as of 12:30 p.m. ET. 

• After infection and death rates sharply declined in recent weeks, New York City began phase one of its reopening process Monday, allowing construction, manufacturing and curbside retail businesses to reopen with safety precautions. Yet with nearly 8.5 million people, reopening the city presents a challenge like no other in the nation. Read more about it here.
• New Zealand has completely eradicated coronavirus – for now, at least – after health officials said Monday the last known person had recovered. It has been more than two weeks since the last case was reported in the island nation.
• Winds, rain, flooding and even tornadoes remained a threat in some southern states in the wake of Tropical Storm Cristobal, which has since been downgraded to a tropical depression. Here's how this hurricane season – which is already historically busy – pairs with the pandemic to make a unique and "cataclysmic" scenario.
• In the U.S., 110,000 have died from the virus and nearly 2 million have been infected, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Globally, coronavirus has infected more than 7 million and killed 400,000. Keep track of the numbers in your area here.

Keep leaving your coronavirus questions here and one of our reporters can get back to you with answers. Remember to leave your first name and last initial, plus city and state so we can give you a shout-out if we select your question!

As always, thank you for trusting the Paste BN Network for clear and accurate information. 

– Jay Cannon, Paste BN Network and wires editor, @JayTCannon