Canadian Blood Services clinic in Lethbridge. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

It’s still safe to donate blood during the COVID-19 pandemic

Mar 25, 2020 | 12:06 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A lot of people are rightfully concerned about COVID-19, but Canadian Blood Services (CBS) says, as long as you are healthy, that should not stop you from donating blood.

“It is safe to donate blood during COVID-19, and in fact, your donation can help to save a life,” says Associate Director of Donor Relations Jennifer Gretzan-Melnichuk. “Our donor centres are a place of wellness within Canada’s health system. Only healthy people are eligible to donate blood and were eligible to donate before this pandemic as well.”

She told LNN that, in the first couple of weeks where the virus had entered the country, clinics across Canada and specifically in Lethbridge saw a large number of people cancelling their appointments.

Since they put out an advisory last week about how it still being safe to donate; however, Gretzan-Melnichuk says the numbers have come back to about a normal level.

“It’s really helped maintain the blood inventory in the short term and we want to thank those donors for their generosity.”

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For now, CBS’ blood donor clinics are only open to those who make appointments.

The organization has increased the frequency to which they sanitize their offices, which is also done more thoroughly.

Physical distancing measures have been implemented.

As well, there is now an “active wellness station” at the entrances to all of their clinics where staff will ask each person coming in about their recent travel history and if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19.

Overall, Gretzan-Melnichuk says it’s just as important as ever to be donating blood.

“This effort is a marathon, not a sprint. Because blood donation is used every single day in regular treatments, you know, people undergoing surgery, people involved in a major trauma like car accidents or cancer patients, every minute of every day, someone is still receiving a blood transfusion.”

Appointments to donate blood can be made at blood.ca, on the Give Blood mobile app, or by calling 1-888-2DONATE.

CBS has suspended their in-person group swabbing events, which sees people aged 17-35 get their cheek swabbed to be added to a list of people who can give stem cells. You can still register to get a kit in the mail through their website.