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Governor Eric J. Holcomb
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American Red Cross Coronavirus Messaging

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)                                                
March 12, 2020

As concerns about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continue to rise, the American Red Cross strongly urges healthy, eligible individuals to give blood or platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply and prevent shortages.

  • Right now, communities across the country are following public health preparedness guidance – and that includes a readily available blood supply for hospital patients.
  • Cold and flu season has already impacted the blood supply, and now with COVID-19, there may be a further decrease in the number of people eligible to give blood. Blood and platelet donations are needed to keep the blood supply stable during this challenging time. 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.
  • The Red Cross is dedicated to ensuring the safety and availability of the U.S. blood supply for all patients in need including accident victims and cancer patients.

Donating blood is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood. The need for blood is constant, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need.

  • At each blood drive and donation center, Red Cross employees follow thorough safety protocols including wearing gloves, routinely wiping down donor-touched areas, using sterile collection sets for every donation, and preparing the arm for donation with an aseptic scrub.
  • It’s important to emphasize that there are no data or evidence that this coronavirus can be transmitted by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases of transfusion transmission for any respiratory virus including this coronavirus worldwide.
  • Nonetheless, the Red Cross has implemented new blood donation deferrals out of an abundance of caution. We are now asking that individuals postpone their donation for 28 days following:
    • Travel to China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, Italy or South Korea;
    • Diagnosis of COVID-19, contact with a person who has or is suspected to have the virus.
  • We believe these measures will help to keep blood recipients, staff and donors safe.
  • The Red Cross continues to evaluate all emerging risks in collaboration with the FDA, CDC and industry partners to determine if additional intervention strategies are needed.

The Red Cross is also working to ensure we can continue to carry out other aspects of our
lifesaving mission, including providing critical disaster relief services.

  • We are working with public health officials to put plans in place to keep local communities and our workforce safe, while still providing emergency shelter and comfort after disasters of all sizes.
  • We understand this is a concerning time and people want to protect themselves and their families. There are specific steps people can take now, learn more at redcross.org.

If you are healthy, feeling well and eligible to give blood or platelets, please make an
appointment to donate as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting
RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

  • Type O and platelet donations are especially needed right now.
  • The Red Cross only collects blood from individuals who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation. Donating blood does not impact or weaken the immune system.