Blood drives, student donations down due to coronavirus. Now hospital supplies are low
San Luis Obispo County officials on Monday urged residents to donate blood, as the coronavirus outbreak disrupts local hospitals’ typical supply chain.
Wade Horton, county Emergency Services director, said the county’s two primary sources of blood — business drives and college student donors — are no longer available, leaving leaving hospitals low on needed supplies.
“Although blood donations are not needed to fight COVID-19, there is still a need to keep blood supplies adequate,” Horton said at a news conference Monday. “Please consider giving blood — our hospitals need your help.”
Giving blood is exempt from the county’s shelter-at-home order, and there’s no known risk of contracting COVID-19 while donating, Horton said.
Vitilant’s blood donation center at 4119 Broad St., Suite 100, in San Luis Obispo is open and accepting donors. To learn more, call 877-827-4376 or visit vitalant.org.
