Nationwide nearly 10,000 Red Cross blood drives had to be canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
High school, middle school and college blood drives were canceled as states and counties have shut down the schools, along with many corporate blood drives.
Paul Lyle, Red Cross volunteer coordinator, and his team were able to host an emergency blood drive for people who still wanted to donate from Pittsburg State University. It was held Thursday following two days of regular donations earlier that week at Countryside Christian Church.
Of the 65 to 70 people that normally would have donated, several were not available — they either have left town to go home, had children to care for or perhaps are at high risk for getting COVID-19.
“But we did get 35 good donations yesterday and on Monday’s and Tuesday’s regular drives we got 130 donations,” Lyle said. “We did 160 over three days which is great.”
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