The American Red Cross is reporting unusually low blood donation rates this year due to the pandemic.
The blood supply in the United States has dropped over the last few months, when the delta variant surged across the country, according to a September press release by the Red Cross.
"With the recent COVID-19 case surge and the busy back-to-school period, some blood collection organizations are experiencing an abnormal decline in donor turnout; others are experiencing blood drive cancellations at schools and businesses limiting the number of individuals allowed onsite as a precautionary pandemic practice," the release said. "These collection challenges have disrupted the nation’s blood supply, resulting in concerningly low inventories of life-saving blood products across the country for patients in need."
While the fall is typically a time where the nation’s blood supply is stable, this year that hasn’t been the case. This has caused a 48% drop in new blood donors this year, according to reporting by KTVU on Friday.
"If the nation’s blood supply does not stabilize soon, hospitals may be forced to alter treatment for some patients or cancel some patient surgeries," said the release.
This is affecting the Red Cross Bay Area chapters as well. "It's the lowest blood supply we've had in the last decade," said Ken Toren, CEO of the American Red Cross's Silicon Valley chapter, in an interview with the station.
It’s particularly dire in the Bay Area. "We collect 40% of the nation's blood so we are the largest blood operation in the country," said Toren, as reported by the station.
The American Red Cross of the Bay Area did not respond to KCBS Radio’s request for comment at the time of publication.
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