NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The New York Blood Center warned Monday that fears of the delta variant have caused a blood shortage "emergency."
With efforts to combat rising COVID-19 cases and the highly transmissive variant wreaking havoc on unvaccinated Americans, the NYBC said canceled blood drives and a drop in donations are leading to similar blood donation shortages seen at the height of the pandemic.
“We are deeply worried by the recent drop in donations and blood drive cancelations -- at this concerning time it's critical that healthy donors continue to come forward to help their neighbors,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Executive Director at the NYBC.
The center said Monday blood supply levels have dropped to from a 5 day supply now to a 2-3 day supply with a 1-2 day supply of type O — a "signal" of "more severe shortages in the weeks ahead."
Cefarelli cautioned the need for a surplus of supply especially during a pandemic.
“A robust blood supply is essential for our healthcare system to function and we must do everything we can to strengthen it at this time of uncertainty," Cefarelli added. "We are so grateful to our donors for continuing to show up and encourage more New Yorkers to join them to ensure there’s enough blood for the thousands who need transfusion each day in New York.”
The NYBC said donating blood is safe and center staff are taking precautionary measures to ensure donor safety. Donors can schedule appointments by calling 1-800-933-2566 or by visiting www.nybc.org.