[Photo] COVID-19 Blood Donation Shortage... Seocho-gu Council Members Voluntarily Participate in Blood Donation

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Seocho District Council (Chairperson An Jong-suk) visited the Seoul Southern Blood Center of the Korean Red Cross on the 13th to participate in blood donation to help alleviate the shortage of blood supply.

Upon hearing that blood supply has been disrupted due to blood donation avoidance caused by concerns over COVID-19 infection, the Seocho District Council members voluntarily rolled up their sleeves to donate blood.

According to the Red Cross blood donation performance data, the number of donations decreased by 26,869 compared to the previous year after the occurrence of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (from January 21 to February 12, 2020).

In particular, the cancellation of group blood donations has been more severe. From the 28th of last month until the end of this month, 273 groups have canceled their blood donations, with a scheduled number of 13,916 donations.

On the day, the council members who visited the blood center listened to difficulties related to blood supply from the blood center officials and, after medical screening, those eligible participated directly in blood donation.

Chairperson An Jong-suk said, “I believe that blood donation is the best way to share life and love,” and added, “I hope that all of us will participate in blood donation so that COVID-19 does not extinguish the small hope that leads to life.”

Lee Gyu-myung, team leader of the Blood Donation Support Team at the Seoul Southern Blood Center, stated, “We are thoroughly implementing preventive measures such as disinfecting blood collection equipment frequently,” and added, “More people’s participation in blood donation is needed for emergency patients who require transfusions.”