The Thai Red Cross on Wednesday renewed its call for people to donate blood as donations halved to record levels amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Thailand is suffering a new round of infections after the discovery a month ago of a cluster in a seafood market near Bangkok, which more than doubled in a matter of weeks the number of cases the kingdom had racked up on eleven months, reaching a total of 10,991 cases on Wednesday.
The government has urged people to stay at home until the outbreak is under control, and universities and organizations that normally hold blood drives have suspended their donation programs.
“This is the strongest crisis we have ever known,” lamented Piyanun Kumkrong, deputy director for donor recruitment at the National Blood Center.
“Usually we receive 2,200 units a day,” she told Reuters, adding that the center received only 394 units on Wednesday because donors fear they may contract COVID-19.
On average, the decrease in donations is of the order of 700 to 900 units.
If the trend continues, hospitals will have to postpone surgeries outside of emergencies, Piyanun Kumkrong said.
The blood center said in a statement that it did not have enough plasma to supply 340 hospitals in Thailand. For several days, he has been calling on social networks for people to come forward and donate blood.
“Plasma donations are urgently needed for surgical and pediatric patients with blood diseases such as anemia, thalassemia and hemophilia,” the center said.
Potential donors can contact the Thai Red Cross National Blood Donor Center on 0 2256 4300 or 0 2263 9600-99.
See also the Thai Red Cross website
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