YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED

The Citizen has asked a group of medical and research experts to answer reader questions about COVID-19. Here’s today’s query, on donating blood (we’ll try to answer other questions as we receive them).

Q: With so much social distancing being encouraged, why is it still considered safe to give blood?

A: (courtesy of Dr. Isra Levy, vice-president, medical affairs and innovation, Canadian Blood Services):

Thank you for your very important question. Blood donor centres are neither a social nor recreational gathering. Since blood products have a limited shelf life, demand is constant. Patients undergoing surgery and cancer treatment, injury victims and people with blood disorders rely on blood transfusions every day.

The safety of our donors, staff, volunteers and patients is a priority. In addition to our robust routine cleaning, infection-control and screening practices, we have introduced enhanced cleaning measures, active “wellness” screening stations and physical-distancing measures to better protect anyone who comes through our doors.

Also, following requests from the Public Health Agency of Canada to enable physical distancing, walk-ins are no longer permitted; you’ll need an appointment. This helps minimize the number of people at donor centres at one time and allows people to complete a pre-screening questionnaire before they arrive.

Only people who feel healthy and have no symptoms of illness are eligible to donate blood. But we need those who are eligible and healthy to continue to book and honour their appointments to donate blood.