Lockdown and our national supply of blood products

To the Editor: Our generation finds itself in an unprecedented situation, as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes widespread changes to everyone’s lives. Our healthcare system has faced adversity in various forms, but this current crisis brings new and more difficult challenges. An important a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:South African medical journal 2020-04, Vol.110 (5), p.337-337
Main Authors: Louw, V.J., Wise, R.D., Gibbs, M.W.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:To the Editor: Our generation finds itself in an unprecedented situation, as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes widespread changes to everyone’s lives. Our healthcare system has faced adversity in various forms, but this current crisis brings new and more difficult challenges. An important aspect of medical treatment is the use of blood products. The availability of these products is reliant on voluntary donations and appropriate use by clinicians. A large proportion of donations are made from the elderly, perhaps at greatest risk from COVID-19, and educational institutions, now closed through isolation polices. Data from other countries highlight social distancing and self-isolation as important steps in slowing down transmission of coronavirus.[1] However, these measures will drastically reduce the number of blood donations, unless different collection strategies are employed.
ISSN:0256-9574
2078-5135
DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i5.14749