Coronavirus 'social distancing' raises concerns about Iowa's blood supply

Canceling university classes and other “social distancing” measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 could have an unintended public health consequence: reducing the state’s and nation’s blood supply.

Stacy Sime, president and CEO of Lifeserve Blood Center, said as of Wednesday, nine blood drives had been canceled, reducing collections by about 275 units of blood. “And we anticipate that growing really over the next few days because I think people will start to react to some of the decisions that are being made now,” she said.

“This is actually a national concern and when you think about it, it makes sense because the public health strategies that are being used are social distancing, encouraging businesses to work remotely, no big events,” Sime said. Businesses are implementing “no visitor” policies, and that includes blood-bank staffs who are trying to collect donations, she said.

The move by universities to keep students at home and offer classes online after spring break is also expected to reduce the blood supply. “And so in the months of March, April and May, about 30 percent of the blood supply collected by the three blood centers that service the hospitals in the state of Iowa are supplied by education accounts,” she said. “So there’s serious concern.”

Read more: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2020/03/12/coronavirus-social-distancing-raises-concerns-about-iowas-blood-supply/