Blood center moves to appointment-only schedule with longer open hours
Blood donors needed
Because of COVID-19 and the stay-at-home mandate, the Community Blood Center is canceling all blood drives through the end of April, and extending the open hours at its donor centers.
According to a spokesman, the CBC also is doing away with walk-in donations and all donations are now scheduled.
They are urging healthy donors to make appointments to help maintain the region’s blood supply at this critical time, the spokesman said.
Blood collection sites are disinfected frequently, and they are taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19 as per CDC recommendations, the spokesman stated.
CBC staff are also practicing health self-assessments prior to presenting at work, according to the spokesman. As always, people are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms.
Beginning Monday, March 23, all seven of CBC’s donor centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday – Sunday.
Donors can schedule appointments by calling 1-877-468-6844 or visiting savealifenow.org/coronavirus.
To help donors travel to and from the donor centers, CBC is providing a letter to donors that indicates they are traveling in order to provide lifesaving blood products, the spokesman said. This letter will be sent to all donors with appointments and will also be available online at savealifenow.org/coronavirus. Police have stated they will not be stopping people only for being on the road.
In order to protect the staff, healthy blood donors and the community blood supply, individuals are instructed to avoid donor centers if they are experiencing a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing), have had close contact with someone diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19 in the last 14 days, or been diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19 until 28 days after their illness has resolved. CBC does not test for COVID-19.
For more information, visit savealifenow.org/coronavirus.