DALLAS (KRLD) - The Red Cross is urging people to donate blood, saying concerns about coronavirus could lead to more donors staying home. The organization says donors are now being asked if they have traveled to China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, Italy or South Korea in the last 28 days.
"If you have been to those areas recently, we do ask you to give yourself a 28 day deferral," says the Red Cross' Jan Hale. "Part of what we're doing, as a community, is following public health guidelines. Part of that preparedness is having a steady and solid blood supply."
But Hale says the new guidelines could affect participation. In addition to recent travelers being deferred, she says some people may not donate blood because they are concerned about being exposed to coronavirus.
"We really want people to hear donating blood is a safe process," she says. "People should not hesitate to give or even receive blood."
The Red Cross says no evidence suggests coronavirus could be transmitted by a blood transfusion. The organization says there have been no cases of transmission of any respiratory virus, such as the flu, through transfusions worldwide.
"We would urge anyone who's healthy and well to really make an effort to donate blood," Hale says. "We are concerned as the outbreak grows that there will be fewer and fewer people who might be eligible."
The Red Cross has set up blood drives across the state this month. In North Texas:
Collin County
Allen
3/16/2020: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 205 Central Expressway N
McKinney
3/21/2020: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Our Savior Lutheran Church, 2708 W. Virginia Pkwy.
3/21/2020: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Texas RoadHouse Mckinney, 3101 S. CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY
3/23/2020: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Medical City McKinney, 4500 medical Center Drive
3/24/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites McKinney-Fairview, 3220 Craig Drive
Plano
3/10/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Preston Park Towers, 4975 Preston Park Blvd., Suite 25
3/11/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Republic Title of Texas, 2701 W. Plano Parkway
3/21/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Shops At Willow Bend, 6121 W. Park Blvd, Suite 1000
3/28/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center, Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center, 5801 W. Parker Rd
Princeton
3/28/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Performance Fitness, 302 W. Princeton Dr.
Wylie
3/21/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Rita & Truett Smith Public Library, 300 Country Club Rd
_______________
Dallas County
Coppell
3/19/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., New Tech High School at Coppell, 113 Samuel Blvd
3/23/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Coppell ER, 720 N. Denton Tap Rd.
Dallas
3/10/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla Street
3/10/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., First American Center, 8435 N. Stemmons Freeway
3/12/2020: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Bryan Adams High School, 2101 Milmar
3/13/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lowe's Dallas, 6011 Lemmon Avenue
3/16/2020: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Drive
3/16/2020: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., The Village Den, 8200 Southwestern Blvd
3/18/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Toyota of Dallas, 2610 Forest Lane
3/18/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Trammell Crow Center, 2010 Flora Street
3/29/2020: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 8011 Douglas Avenue
Garland
3/25/2020: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Musso Family Dentistry, 513 West Centerville Road
Irving
3/19/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., YARDI, 8616 Freeport Parkway, Suite 300
Richardson
3/10/2020: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Legrand, 2240 Campbell BLVD.
3/22/2020: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Raindrop Foundation Dallas, 1416 E Collins Blvd.
3/28/2020: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Shady's Burgers & Brewhaha, 2701 Custer Pkwy #915
3/31/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., UTD Residential Hall South Building, 800 W. Campbell Road
_______________
Denton County
Carrollton
3/25/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Carrollton City Library, 4220 N. Josey Lane
Denton
3/14/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 300 West Oak Street
3/20/2020: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Billy Ryan High School, 5101 E. McKinney St.
Flower Mound
3/20/2020: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5500 Morris Road
Frisco
3/15/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Frisco Fresh Market, 9215 John W Elliott Drive
3/25/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Baylor Scott and White Medical Center Frisco, 5601 Warren Pkwy
The Colony
3/10/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., City of The Colony Blood Drive, 6804 Main Street
3/12/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nebraska Furniture Mart, 5600 Nebraska Furniture Mart Dr.
Trophy Club
3/24/2020: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Byron Nelson High School, 2775 Bobcat Blvd.
_______________
Ellis County
Red Oak
3/26/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Red Oak High School, 122 State Hwy 342
_______________
Jack County
Jacksboro
3/19/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 200 N Knox
_______________
Kaufman County
Forney
3/31/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., North Forney High School, 6170 N. Falcon Way
_______________
Parker County
Weatherford
3/19/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Weatherford Public Library, 1014 Charles Street
_______________
Rockwall County
Rockwall
3/28/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Cricket Wireless, 481 E I30
_______________
Tarrant County
Euless
3/22/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lowe's Euless, 3000 TX 121
Fort Worth
3/14/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cabela's, 12901 cabela Drive
3/15/2020: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Our Lady of Guadalupe, 4100 Blue Mound Rd
3/17/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Polytechnic High School, 1300 Conner Avenue
3/23/2020: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Lowe's Fort Worth, 4305 Bryant Irvin Road
3/31/2020: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, 3901 S. Hulen St.
Grapevine
3/20/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Grapevine, 1650 West College Street
3/20/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, 1650 West College Street
Haslet
3/22/2020: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fellowship of the Parks, 1029 Avondale Haslet Rd.
Keller
3/14/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Heritage Clubhouse, 9536 Courtright Dr
Southlake
3/29/2020: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., White's Chapel United Methodist Church, 185 S. White Chapel Blvd
In other parts of Texas:
Brazos County
Bryan
3/14/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints- Bryan, 2500 Barak Ln.
College Station
3/11/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Viasat, 3902 South Traditions Drive
_______________
Coryell County
Copperas Cove
3/10/2020: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Grace United Methodist Church, 101 W Avenue F
_______________
Hamilton County
Hico
3/17/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Hico High School/Workroom, 901 Cedar Street
_______________
McLennan County
Waco
3/30/2020: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Doris Miller VA Medical Center Building 6, 4800 Memorial
_______________
Travis County
Austin
3/12/2020: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., HealthCorps, 1901 E. Ben White Blvd
3/30/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, 2110 San Jacinto Blvd
_______________
Williamson County
Leander
3/11/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Carpe Diem Private Preschool, 14009 Ronald Reagan Blvd.