March 20, 2020 / Modified mar 21, 2020 12:20 p.m.

Red Cross urges blood donations, implements new protocols for collection

Concerns over COVID-19 led to the cancellation of thousands of blood drives across the country.

With businesses and organizations closing or scaling back events because of COVID-19, fewer blood drives are taking place. In recent weeks, the American Red Cross has collected 150,000 blood units than normal with the cancellation of 4,500 blood drives across the country. Southern Arizona executive director Courtney Slanaker and Southern Arizona Board of Directors chairman Dan Cavanagh spoke about the need for donations in the state and discussed extra safety precautions the organization is taking to prevent the potential spread of coronavirus.

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