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Red Cross braces for drop in donations amid the COVID-19 outbreak

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

While Mid-Missouri hospitals say they have enough blood supplies right now, the American Red Cross is bracing for a lack of blood because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

A spokesperson for the American Red Cross Joe Zydlo said the supply of blood is stable right now regionally and nationally.

"Three and a half weeks ago if you would have told me we were in the situation we are in, I probably would have laughed and said there is no way we would get to that point," Zydlo said. "We're in great shape right now."

But he said that could change as soon as the end of April, as blood drives and donations have slowed down amid the coronavirus crisis.

More than 750 blood drives have been canceled in the Missouri-Arkansas region, 80% of those being in Missouri. Because of those cancelations, the Red Cross has lost out on 23,000 blood donations.

Nationwide, over 14,000 blood drives have been canceled resulting in over 420,000 fewer blood donations.

"We can't replace those drives," Zydlo said. "Obviously drives at schools, many schools are out and maybe will even finish with online classes."

Boone Hospital and MU Health Care in Columbia receive their blood from the American Red Cross. Both Hospitals said Wednesday they have enough blood supplies right now but are monitoring the levels closely.

A spokesman for Boone Hospital said one of the reasons the system cut back on elective procedures was to conserve the blood supply.

Zydlo said hospitals are receiving less blood supply now because many are limiting elective surgeries, which helps keep the supply up.

SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital and Capital Region Hospital in Jefferson Ctiy both told ABC17 News that their blood supply was stable. Both receive blood from Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center (MVRBC).

Dr. Denise Tritz, medical director of the laboratory of St. Mary's said MVRBC asked hospitals to come up with an emergency blood management program looking forward to blood donations diminishing as several blood drives are being canceled.

The laboratory at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Jefferson City developed such an emergency blood management plan. Cancer patients and bleeding patients from accidents or disease continue to need blood during this pandemic. The purpose of the emergency blood management plan is to maximize effectiveness of the equitable allocation of scarce blood resources in times of severe shortage.

Dr. Denise Tritz, SSM Health St. Mary's Jefferson City

While blood supply is in good shape now, Zydlo encouraged people to sign-up for blood donations and drives in the next two to four weeks, as that is when officials expect the need to go up.

He said the Red Cross is looking for more locations to set up blood drives and bring in additional staff to prepare for the shortage.

The Red Cross is implementing strict health and safety protocols during donations and doing drives by apportionment only. Staff must wear masks, and donors are screened at the door. Anyone with a 99.5 temperature or higher will be asked to leave.

Watch ABC17 News at 9 on KQFX and 10 on KMIZ for a full report.

Article Topic Follows: Coronavirus

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Connor Hirsch

Connor Hirsch reports for the weekday night shows, as well as Sunday nights.

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