Can You Donate Blood During COVID-19 Pandemic?

As coronavirus has spread to the whole world, most of the countries are following a complete lockdown. In addition to many work, education and social life, this lockdown is also affecting blood donation campaigns and drives that are completely canceled. In the United States, 36000 units of red blood cells are required every day, even when no pandemic is there. Many patients need blood regularly as part of life-saving treatment but the reduction in blood donations may lead to many deaths a day.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, people are uncertain whether they should donate blood or not. Well, yes they should donate blood to save the lives that are dependent upon it.  Besides, as there is no risk while donating blood during a pandemic. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describes that there is no case of transfusion-transmitted COVID-19 is suspected.

The president and chief executive officer of the American Red Cross, Gail McGovern, says that,

“One of the most important things people can do right now during this public health emergency is to give blood. If you are healthy and feeling well, please make an appointment to donate as soon as possible.”

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Keeping up a satisfactory blood supply is crucial to public health. Blood donors help the patients of many diseases and all ages including heart surgery burn victims, organ transplant patients, cancer patients, and many other life-threatening conditions. It is estimated by The American Red Cross that in the U.S every two seconds, someone needs blood.

The director of biomedical communications for the humanitarian organization, Jessa Merrill says

 “There is no known end date in this fight against coronavirus and the Red Cross needs the help of blood and platelet donors and blood drive hosts to maintain a sufficient blood supply for weeks to come.”

Some measures are taken by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect the people’s blood supply. Only those people can donate blood, who haven’t any health issues and feel well on the day of donation. And the blood donors should contact the donor center if any health issue is felt by them after donating blood.

The agency advises people to donate blood to help others during this public health emergency. If you are healthy and want to donate blood then contact the local donation center and donate blood there.

The chief medical officer for the American Red Cross, Dr. Pampee Young says,

“We are very concerned with keeping up the levels we need on a day-to-day basis. Those needs are not likely to change.”

You can also help others during this pandemic by donating convalescent plasma because scientists have investigated that it can be used in the treatment of COVID-19.

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Convalescent plasma is a liquid portion of blood and it is taken from those who recover from COVID-19 because antibodies against coronavirus are present in their blood.

The FDA points out that convalescent plasma can be taken from COVID-19 recovered patients only if they meet the requirements issued by the FDA.

Many people also wonder if they should wear a face mask when they’re out in public. Numerous individuals also wonder whether they should wear a face mask when they move out in public.

The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a face mask that is important in public places where it is hard to keep up social distancing measures like medical stores and grocery shops. The object is to slow the spread of the coronavirus and to assist the people who may have the infection and they are not aware of it from infecting others.