Blood shortage in the middle of a pandemic

You can donate blood and stay safe from COVID-19

Into rochester./// georg} this pandemic and physical distancing means a different way of doing life.

It also means a different way of*givin* life.

Kimt news 3's raquel hellman joins us live in rochester to explain how food and drug administration changes will make more people eligible to donate blood.xxx live this is where people come to donate blood.

The good news here at the mayo clinic blood donation center is we have a healthy two week supply.

But elsewhere in this country, there's a shortage.

That's why the ??a is working to allow more people to donate while still keeping the blood supply safe.

Doctor justin kreuter is a transfusion medicine specialist.

He wants more of you to step in to donate.

Here's an example of the change: let's say i visited a place in mexico where there's a risk of getting malaria.

I would normally have to wait a year after returning to the ?s to donate blood.

But now?

I would only have to wait three months.

He says it all depends on how an area's donor population has been affected by covi?19.xxx i am still very concerned in the coming weeks to months as people that come in to donate get sick or quarantined or are unable to come in or because they have to take care of a loved one now keep this in mind: those new fda guidelines cannot be implemented here at the mayo clinic blood donor program.

All people qualified to implement those changes are working around the clock on the convalescent plasma program .

The program takes plasma from people who have recovered from covi?19 and uses it to treat others who have the illness.

Live in rochester, raquel hellman, kimt news three./// thanks raquel.

Doctor kreuter (kro?

Ter) also wants to assure people there is no risk of getting covi?19 from donating blood./// another mild day..