Blood Donors Needed During COVID-19 Surge: Suncoast Blood Centers

SARASOTA, FL — With Florida and the greater Sarasota region facing a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, SunCoast Blood Centers is asking people to donate blood, the organization shared on social media.

Donors ages 16 and over can schedule an appointment to give blood at any SunCoast Blood Centers location or bloodmobile by visiting suncoastblood.org or by calling 866-97-BLOOD (972-5663). Walk-ins are also welcome.

The organization has partnered with Walmart to host back-to-school blood drive Sunday and Monday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at select stores. Those who donate blood during these times will receive a $10 Walmart gift card. Schedule an appointment at a local Walmart here.

The Florida Hospital Association reported 12,041 new COVID-19-related hospitalizations statewide Wednesday.

And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID Data Tracker, nearly 17,000 new cases and 140 deaths were reported in Florida Tuesday.

Locally, from July 23-29, 1,552 new coronavirus cases were reported in Manatee County, as well as a new case positivity rate of 17.5 percent, according to the Florida Department of Health's COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report. In Sarasota County, 1,412 new coronavirus cases, as well as a new case positivity rate of 13.3 percent, was reported July 23-29.

Suncoast Blood Centers previously faced a critical blood shortage in June, saying, at the time, it had its lowest inventory in a decade.

SunCoast serves hospitals and health care facilities throughout Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties, as well as the Moffitt Cancer Center. In order to keep its 14 hospitals supplied, SunCoast Blood Centers needs to collect 150 red blood cell units every day.