NJ Coronavirus: Red Cross Encourages Blood Donation In Moorestown

MOORESTOWN, NJ — The American Red Cross is urging healthy, eligible people who feel well enough to give blood to donate at three upcoming drives in Moorestown.

Cold and flu season has already had an impact on the nation’s ability to maintain its blood supply, and the Red Cross expects the number of eligible donors to dwindle further as more cases of new coronavirus are reported.

The Red Cross is also reminding people there is no evidence that shows coronavirus can be transmitted by blood transmission. No cases of respiratory viruses have ever been reported through blood transfusions.

Furthermore, the Red Cross has asked potential donors to postpone their donation for 28 days following:

• Travel to China and its special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Iran, Italy and South Korea;
• Diagnosis of COVID-19, contact with a person who has or is suspected to have the virus.

Blood drives in Moorestown will take place as follows:

• March 11: 2 p.m.-7 p.m., PowerBack Rehabilitation, 212 Marter Ave.
• March 22: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Our Lady of Good Council School, 23 W. Prospect Ave.
• March 24: 1:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 446 E. Camden Ave.

“We’re asking the American people to help keep the blood supply stable during this challenging time. As communities across the country prepare for this public health emergency, it’s critical that plans include a readily available blood supply for hospital patients,” Red Cross Blood Services President Chris Hrouda said. “As fears of coronavirus rise, low donor participation could harm blood availability at hospitals, and the last thing a patient should worry about is whether lifesaving blood will be on the shelf when they need it most.”

The Red Cross said it only collects blood from individuals who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation — and who meet other eligibility requirements, available at RedCrossBlood.org. At each blood drive and donation center, Red Cross employees follow thorough safety protocols including wearing gloves, routinely wiping down donor-touched areas, using sterile collection sets for every donation, and preparing the arm for donation with an aseptic scrub.

These steps are taken to help ensure the safety of the blood recipient, donor and staff, the Red Cross said.

As the situation evolves, the Red Cross said it will continue to evaluate all emerging risks in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and industry partners to determine if additional intervention strategies are needed.

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

How It Spreads
The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention always recommends taking preventive actions to contain the spread of viruses. This includes:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

The New Jersey Department of Health has partnered with the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System to open and operate a call center (1-800-222-1222) for public use regarding questions, concerns, and other information related to coronavirus spread in New Jersey. More information is also available on the state's coronavirus webpage.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here’s What You Need To Know