A top United States health official urged younger people to donate blood as a way to help the coronavirus crisis in the country’s healthcare system.
Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams made the plea for blood donations from millennials or members of Generation Z during Thursday’s daily coronavirus press briefing.
“One thing we should all consider, especially our millennials and Gen Z, is donating blood,” he explained. “As an anesthesiologist who still practices at Walter Reed taking care of our wounded warriors and our soldiers, I know donated blood is an essential part of caring for patients, and one donation can save up to three lives. Blood centers are open now and in need of your donation.”
Adams continued, “I want Americans to know that blood donation is safe, and blood centers are taking extra precautions at this time based on new CDC recommendations, including spacing beds 6 feet apart, disinfecting surfaces between patients, temperature-checking staff, and encouraging donors to make appointments ahead of time so we can space them out. Social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement.”
As of Thursday morning, nearly 10,000 coronavirus cases had been confirmed in the United States, which has resulted in approximately 150 deaths. More than 100 people in the U.S. have recovered from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University.
