The new phase of COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in blood donations since late March. More than 340 hospitals nationwide need 6,500-7,000 units of blood daily, but only 2,000 units are available, so blood is insufficient for medical treatments. Medical treatment postponement due to blood shortage may put patients’ lives at risk or even cause death.
The National Blood Centre of the Thai Red Cross Society (TRCS) has set 3 conditions in providing safe blood donation for hospitals nationwide.
- 1. Blood donors must check themselves before donating blood. If they have fever, sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, pink eyes, rash and cough or recently visited clubs/bars, markets, crowded or risky places, or contacted with COVID-19 patients, they are not eligible to donate blood for at least 14 days.
- 2. Staff should be aware and strictly follow the rules, they must always wear face masks, and have alcohol hand sanitizers everywhere. Social distancing and barriers between staff
and blood donors must be used around the area. - 3. The National Blood Centre, mobile blood units, and 12 branches of the National Blood Centre nationwide, TRCS, are under the same international standard for highest security.
