The blood clinic scheduled for Monday, March 23rd at the Bancroft Pentecostal Tabernacle will go ahead as planned.
Donor Relations with Canadian Blood Services Debbi Barfoot says it is safe to donate blood during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our donor centres are places of wellness within Canada’s health system,” she says. Barfoot does add that, as per usual, you must be healthy to donate blood.
“All prospective donors are carefully screened for any symptoms of illness,” she says. “As we would for flu symptoms or other illnesses, we ask donors to stay at home if they are not feeling well since only healthy people are eligible to donate blood.”
Those operating the clinic will also be following any guidelines set by Public Health to ensure they do to contribute to the spread of the virus.
“The donor centre is the last place anyone who is not well would come in to,” Marcelo Dominguez, also with Blood Services, tells the MyBancroftNow.com newsroom. “Most people that donate blood recognize that to donate, you have to be healthy.”
It seems like all health units are focused on COVID-19 and containing it, Dominguez points out how many people are still going through cancer treatments or going into surgery and may need blood. He says the need for blood never goes away.
Barfoot says it’s important to donate blood so Blood Services can continue to help Canadians in need. “We need everyone who is eligible and healthy to continue to book and honour their appointments to donate blood,” she says.
“We are very confident there is no concern for donors,” Dominguez says.
The clinic will be held at the Bancroft Pentecostal Tabernacle from 1:30 PM until 6 on Monday, March 23rd.