March 2, 2020
America’s Blood Centers (ABC) continues its efforts to monitor and respond to the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) with the safety of the U.S. blood supply and blood donors our top priority. There is no known risk to the safety of the nation’s blood supply.
Individuals are not at risk of contracting COVID-19 from donating blood. COVID-19 also continues to pose no known risk to patients receiving blood transfusions, with no reported cases of transfusion transmission of this virus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have not changed their recommendation that no additional action by blood centers is warranted at this time.
ABC strongly encourages all healthy individuals and sponsors of blood drives to schedule appointments and keep commitments to donate blood. Healthy eligible donors of all ages and ethnicities are needed now more than ever as the blood supply must be constantly replenished.
Increased donations are needed as blood centers prepare for possible impacts on blood donation collections as a result of any COVID-19 travel restrictions and grapple with the ongoing impact of the flu season. The support of new and current blood donors is critical to maintaining an adequate blood supply for the patients that reply on the generosity of donors every day.
Every 3 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and more than 31,000 pints of blood are used daily. However, less than 10 percent of Americans currently donate each year. To find your local blood center, visit www.americasblood.org.