Blood Drives Seeking Donors As Supply Slows Down

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The New York Blood Center says that 75 percent of its incoming blood supply was interrupted when schools, business and religious institutions closed because of coronavirus.

Andrea Cefarelli, the Senior Executive Director of Donor Recruitment for the New York Blood Center, says they’ve increased hours at their centers in an effort to bring in more donors.

“We’ve added days and added shifts so many days we are open 12 hours per day, in the hopes that healthy individuals will come out to donate and give the gift of life,” Cefarelli told WCBS 880’s Neil A. Carousso.

The centers have switched from walk-ins to appointment only, so that they can manage a safe distance between donors.

The need for blood is constant, and right now, we have an urgent need. If you are healthy and well, please make an appointment at one of our donor centers ASAP: https://t.co/JMOlBf9oy3 pic.twitter.com/WdkSOpqkbE

— NY Blood Center (@NYBloodCenter) March 17, 2020

“In New York, we usually have about 30,000 blood donations per month,” Cefarelli said. “We’ve seen cancellations of 25,000”

The centers want to remind potential donors that a single pint of donated blood can be used to save multiple lives.

The center’s 19 locations across New York and New Jersey do not test for novel coronavirus.