We Need to “Turn Out in Force to Give Blood” (New Time, New Location)

3.17.2020

We Need to “Turn Out in Force to Give Blood” (New Time, New Location)

By Brian Murphy

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and U.S. blood banks are urging blood donations and trying to calm fears, according to a recent article. From the article:

They said in a statement that coronavirus does not pose any known risks to blood donors during the donation process.

Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said Americans need to “start turning out in force to give blood.”

The push comes as blood centers are seeing cancellation of drives and significant drops in donations. The American Red Cross said 300 Red Cross blood drives in the United States have been canceled because of coronavirus concerns. That translates to about 8,000 uncollected blood donations, the group said.