COVID-19 fears blamed for drop in blood donations – The London Free Press

Canadian Blood Services are urging Londoners to continue to donate amid a spike in appointment cancellations due to fears caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Calling it a worrying trend, officials with the national organization blamed the cancellations – seen in several cities across the country – on donors trying to avoiding interacting with other people.

“Individual and group cancellations can have a dramatic impact on patients in Canada who continue to need blood products to treat cancers, trauma, and many surgeries,” said Delphine Denis, a Canadian Blood Services’ spokesperson.

Despite the current pandemic, donating blood was safe, Denis said, noting Canadian Blood Services implements strict screening processes for all donors.

“We have a strong record of responding quickly and effectively to public health issues, as demonstrated in the past with West Nile Virus, Chagas, SARS, MERS, Zika and H1N1,” she said.   

Those cleaning and infection-control practices also were being revamped in the face of the current pandemic by Canadian Blood Services, which supplies blood, blood products and stem cells to hospitals and other users, Denis said.

“We are taking additional measures to enhance our protocols to better protect anyone who comes through our doors,” she said.

Though supply remains strong, and the organization can shift resources nationally depending on need, donations needed to pick up again to avoid shortages, Canadian Blood Services said.

WHERE TO DONATE IN THE LONDON REGION

820 Wharncliffe Rd. S.

• Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 3 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Wednesday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Citi Plaza (unit 144 – across from London Public Library)

• Friday, March 20: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

364 Victoria St. (Ingersoll – Unifor Local 88 building)

• Monday, March 23: 5 p.m.-8 p.m.