PRESS RELEASE
Mayor Gavin Buckley
Public Information Office
160 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Media Contact: Mitchelle Stephenson, 410-972-7724 or mwstephenson@annapolis.gov
Annapolis Community Pop-Up Blood Drive at
‘Pip’ Moyer Recreation Center on Mon., Tue. & Wed.
Participants *MUST* Be Prescreened and Have Red Cross Appointment to Give
ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 20, 2020) –The Red Cross announced a Pop-Up Blood Drive event that will take place at the City of Annapolis’ “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (March 23-25) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All participants will be prescreened and given an appointment time. To schedule a donation, call 800-733-2767 (800 RED CROSS). Or follow link. Only donors with appointments will be seen.
“I give blood every time I get notice that I’m eligible,” said Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley. “We need to help those in need. Please make an appointment and give blood if you can.”
Red Cross is requiring donors and staff to take special precautions, including temperature screening, enhanced disinfecting, social distancing, staff wellness and protection, and increased education materials.
According to the Red Cross, there is now a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during the coronavirus outbreak. Red Cross is seeking eligible and healthy donors.
“Donating blood is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood,” according to RedCross.org.
Pampee Young, M.D., Ph.D, the Chief Medical Officer of the Red Cross, notes that there have been no reported cases of any respiratory virus being transmitted by blood, including COVID-19.
Individuals who have traveled to China, Hong Kong, Macau, Italy or South Korea, as well as individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have come into contact with a person who has or is suspected of having the virus will not be permitted to donate. The Red Cross asks these individuals to postpone donating for 28 days following any of the above situations.
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