BLOOD donors who have been in contact with a patient who has been confirmed as having the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will be unable to donate for 28 days, under measures announced by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Chief Medical Officer, Dr Joanne Pink, last week.
In a communique to donors, Pink said the organisation had introduced a 28-day donation postponement for people who have been in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, to ensure any risk of potential exposure in donation centres is minimised.
Pink stressed there is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmissible by blood transfusion, and urged donors who have booked appointments to keep them where possible in the run up to Easter.
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