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The American Red Cross strongly urges healthy, eligible individuals who are feeling well to give blood or platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply and prevent shortages as concerns about the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, rise in the U.S. Cold and flu season has already impacted the nation's ability to maintain its blood supply, and the number of people eligible to give blood could decrease further as coronavirus cases increase in the U.S. Blood donors with type O blood and platelet donors are especially needed right now.
Donating blood is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood. There are no data or evidence that this coronavirus can be transmissible by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases worldwide of transmissions for any respiratory virus, including this coronavirus, from a transfusion. As a precaution, however, individuals are asked to postpone their donation for 28 days following travel to China and its special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Iran, Italy and South Korea; or diagnosis of COVID-19, contact with a person who has or is suspected to have the virus.
The Red Cross only collects blood from individuals who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation, and who meet other eligibility requirements, available at RedCrossBlood.org. Donors can make an appointment to donate blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Blood drive hosts also play a critical role in maintaining a sufficient blood supply and are asked to keep hosting blood drives for patients who rely on lifesaving blood. To learn more about hosting a blood drive for patients in need, visit RedCrossBlood.org.
Upcoming drives in Henrico include March 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Candlewood Suites, 4120 Tom Leonard Drive; March 16 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Varina Library, 1875 New Market Road; March 18 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, 11220 Nuckols Road; March 22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at All Saint's Episcopal Church, 8787 River Road; and March 23 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Mary's Hospital-Bon Secours, 5801 Bremo Road. The Innsbrook Blood Donation Center at 4040 Cox Road and Emerywood Blood Donation Center at 2825 Emerywood Pkwy. are also open for donations six days a week (closed Tuesdays).
