The emergency approval of blood plasma as a potential COVID-19 treatment by the US Food and Drug Administration has now been put on hold, the New York Times has reported, citing two senior administration officials.

A group of top federal health officials including the government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, have argued that the emerging data on the treatment is too weak, the report says.

However, it adds that an emergency approval could still be granted in the near future.

The authorisation was on hold for now as more data was reviewed, the New York Times reported, citing Dr Clifford Lane, clinical director at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases which is part of the National Institute of Health.