- Title: California urges citizens to give blood during coronavirus outbreak
- Date: 24th March 2020
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (MARCH 24, 2020) (REUTERS) HAND SQUEEZING SPONGE WHILE DRAWING BLOOD VARIOUS OF MASON EGHBALI DONATING BLOOD "I MAKE A DIFFERENCE" STICKER (SOUNDBITE) (English) BLOOD DONOR, 21-YEAR-OLD MASON EGHBALI, SAYING "I'm a first time donor and this and what's going on with COVD-19, I think that's very important because many of the blood drives have been cancelled because of the virus and many people are probably afraid to come out and donate in this time of period, but I think they're in a safe environment, they take very good care of you." MASON EGHBALI WHILE DONATING BLOOD BLOOD DRAWING MACHINE INTERIOR OF BLOOD DONATION CENTER BLOOD DONOR MARCELA NAVARRETE WHILE DONATING BLOOD (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BLOOD DONOR, MARCELA NAVARRETE, SAYING: "In what other way can I help? What a better way than donating blood with the hope that someone in our community benefits, no matter the race, but that someone benefits." BAG OF BLOOD BLOOD DONORS LAYING ON BED BLOOD BAGS BEING PREPARED PHLEBOTOMIST ZOILA VILLALTA LABELING BAG OF BLOOD (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHLEBOTOMIST, ZOILA VILLALTA, SAYING: "It's very safe, we really want people to come out. We take people's temperatures; we clean everything that we use as you noticed. Every time a donor gets off, we're cleaning the tables, we're cleaning our hands, changing our globes, so we're taking all the precautions that we can." VILLALTA SCRUBBING DOWN BED (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PHLEBOTOMIST, ZOILA VILLALTA, SAYING: "It's very important, honestly, as you know, all high schools and colleges are out, and they are the ones the donate the most and we're glad people are responding. It's extremely important, there are more cases, besides what's going on with the virus, accidents, organ transplants, people with cancer, people with immunology diseases that need blood and the bank is very low, very low, we need people to come out and donate." BLOOD VIAL BLAISE LANPUGNALE WHILE DONATING BLOOD (SOUNDBITE) (English) BLOOD DONOR, 26-YEAR-OLD BLAISE LANPUGNALE, SAYING: "There will be people who need it and it will get used, so, there is, it can feel tough to feel cramped inside maybe or feel that you're not able to contribute, this is definitely a way to do it. If you feel well enough to get out and can get there." BLAISE LANPUGNALE WHILE DONATING BLOOD BLOOD DRAWING MACHINE INTERIOR OF BLOOD DONATING CENTER "MAKE A DIFFERENCE" STICKERS AMERICAN RED CROSS SPOKESPERSON, ROBERTO TORRES REGISTERING BLOOD DONOR (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN RED CROSS SPOKESPERSON, ROBERTO TORRES, SAYING: "Coronavirus is very pertinent to everybody out, not just here in California but all over the world. So we're aware because we all want to make sure that people know that donating blood is very safe, even if people don't know if they have the virus or not, we have to check it to make sure your temperature is okay to donate, that you're safe to donate, that you're in good health. If you're not in good health if you have any thoughts or questions about your health, please do not donate." WAITING AREA WITH CHAIRS SIX FEET APART (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) AMERICAN RED CROSS SPOKESPERSON, ROBERTO TORRES, SAYING: "It's a big crisis because of coronavirus many don't know what to do, but for the most part the hospitals that need blood every day, there is lots and lots of people who need blood." VARIOUS OF PHLEBOTOMIST ZOILA VILLALTA PREPARING BAG WITH DONATED BLOOD INTERIOR OF BLOOD DONATING CENTER
- Embargoed: 8th April 2020 00:17
- Keywords: American Red Cross COVD-19 blood donation blood drive blood shortage
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C6EY0CN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Severe blood shortage is reported all over the country as blood drives are canceled due to the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak.
In California, the American Red Cross is urging citizens to donate blood during the coronavirus outbreak.
"It's a big crisis because of coronavirus many don't know what to do, but for the most part the hospitals that need blood every day, there is lots and lots of people who need blood," said Roberto Torres, a spokesperson for the American Red Cross.
21 year-old Mason Eghbali is a first time donor and he rushed to a location in Los Angeles, California when he heard about the shortage.
"I think that's very important because many of the blood drives have been cancelled because of the virus and many people are probably afraid to come out and donate in this time of period, but I think they're in a safe environment," said Eghbali.
U.S. blood banks have been concerned about potential shortages as Americans, worried about exposure to the highly contagious new coronavirus, avoid donation sites and companies, whose employees are working from home, cancel blood drives.
"It's very important, honestly, as you know, all high schools and colleges are out, and they are the ones that donate the most and we're glad people are responding. It's extremely important, there are more cases, besides what's going on with the virus, accidents, organ transplants, people with cancer, people with immunology diseases that need blood and the bank is very low, very low, we need people to come out and donate," said phlebotomist Zoila Villalta.
Coronavirus is not transmissible via transfusion, according to the American Red Cross. Thus Torres emphasized that they're taking all necessary steps to ensure donors that donating blood during the pandemic is safe.
"We all want to make sure that people know that donating blood is very safe, even if people don't know if they have the virus or not, we have to check it to make sure your temperature is okay to donate, that you're safe to donate, that you're in good health. If you're not in good health if you have any thoughts or questions about your health, please do not donate."
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