Coronavirus School Closings Result in Significant Decrease in Blood Donations

Red Cross External Communications Manager Joe Zydlo notes school closings impact blood donations.

The “126” Zydlo referenced signifies the number of cancellations in the Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois region as of last Tuesday. Red Cross increased safety measures two weeks ago with temperature checks for donors and staff.

Zydlo encourages donors to monitor red cross blood dot org or download the Red Cross Blood Donor app given all the blood drive changes.

Some drives have been rescheduled or relocated. Today’s (Tues.) Randolph County Blood Drive moved from Westran High School to Huntsville First Baptist Church’s Trask Hall from 1 until 6. As of last Tuesday, there were more than 27 hundred recent blood drive cancellations, which Zydlo said represents six and a half days without a single blood donation.