Concerted efforts in place to tackle blood shortage

By Park Si-soo

Communities, companies and the government have joined forces to tackle the serious shortage of blood donated amid the raging coronavirus epidemic.

Braving fears of the virus being amplified, they have organized blood donation campaigns across the country.

Korea now has blood reserves for 4.4 days, shy of the 50,378 liters from normal five-day levels, according to the Korean Red Cross (KRC). If the level becomes “serious,” hospitals will find blood supplies severely disrupted.

KRC officials said the organization is managing stocks in a more conservative way, monitoring levels at hospitals and checking scheduled surgeries.

There are extreme fears of coronavirus in South Korea ― with 1,146 people infected and 11 dying (as of noon Wednesday) ― so much so that many people are not leaving their homes. This also has affected potential blood donors.

KRC officials said they thoroughly check the body temperature, recent travel history and any respiratory problems of donors before taking their blood.