New York Blood Center Calls For Donations Amid Coronavirus Crisis

NEW YORK, NY — One of New York City's largest blood banks is extending its hours of operation and calling on healthy New Yorkers to donate blood amid the outbreak of new coronavirus.

New York Blood Center, which operates locations in Midtown and one on the Upper East Side, has seen a 75% decrease in blood donations as New Yorkers hunker down to prevent the spread of coronavirus. City and State officials have encouraged people to work from home, schools have closed and religious institutions have canceled gatherings, resulting in a major loss in donations, the center's executives said.

To counter the loss in donations, New York Blood Center will extend the hours of operation at its 19 donations centers in the New York and New Jersey areas, CEO Christopher D. Hillyer said in a statement.

"These modifications will provide controlled, safe environments for healthy donors. By quickly implementing this sustainable long-term solution we have worked to prevent our blood supply from dropping to dangerously low levels," Hillyer said in a statement.

New York Blood Center is calling for people to donate but is also warning anyone who is experiencing any symptoms of coronavirus, also called COVID-19, such as cough, fever and shortness of breath to avoid donation centers. Anyone who feels healthy but may have come into contact with somebody who either tested positive or is suspected to have coronavirus should wait at least two weeks before attempting to donate blood.

Employees working at donation centers undergo a health assessment before beginning work and centers are disinfected frequently, New York Blood Center executives said. New York Blood Center does not provide tests for coronavirus.

About one in seven hospital patients require a blood transfusion, according to the New York Blood Center. The stress coronavirus will put on New York's hospital system may increase the need for blood supply.

As of Thursday morning, 2,382 New York City residents have tested positive for COVID-19 with 9534 tested, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.