Bloodworks: Local blood supply at ‘risk of collapse’ due to coronavirus concerns

The coronavirus has killed people, but there’s a new concern that it could strangle the region’s blood supply and harm people in new ways.

Bloodworks Northwest staff said the blood supply has hit an emergency level. There is a growing concern that things will get worse before they get better, as more than a dozen blood drives have already been canceled.

“This is utterly different,” said Curt Bailey, CEO of Bloodworks Northwest. “This is the perfect storm.”

The perfect storm, as Bailey explained it, looks like this: The most frequent donor group has been advised to stay-home over coronavirus fears. Meanwhile, schools and businesses have shutdown closing off blood drives that makeup 60-percent of their donations.

Last week a number of agencies from out-of-state stepped up and sent blood and plasma to the area to make up the gap. As coronavirus has spread across the country and reached additional states, there is a reality that those types of donations likely won’t last.

“We have never seen a situation as dire as this one,” said Bailey. “The blood supply could collapse in the coming days if the cancellation of drives continues and the public doesn’t choose to book their own appointments to come in.”

You can schedule a donation at this link. You also can text the the word “bloodapp” to 91985 on a cell phone, or call 1-800-398-7888.

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