Hanoi (VNS/VNA) -Amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus-caused disease, now officially namedCOVID-19, calls for blood donation have been heard nationwide as hospitals facesevere blood shortages.

While demand for blood soars after Tet (LunarNew Year) holiday, fears of COVID-19 infection have discouraged people fromparticipating in blood drives. Many university students, a majorproportion of blood donors, have not yet returned to cities during theprolonged school closure, worsening the situation.

“This year’s new year holidays were close to each other, therefore, most ofcentres could not ensure their blood reserves. We have to wait until Red SpringFestival – the country’s biggest blood donation event – tentatively takingplace on February 13 to have them restocked,” Ngo Manh Quan, deputydirector of the National Blood Centre, told Tuoitre (Youth) newspaper.

On February 11, for the first time, the Vietnam General Federation of Labourmade a plea for blood donors in hopes of receiving 500,000 units ofblood in February and March.

“The Vietnam General Federation of Labour has asked each labour union to host avoluntary blood donation day in their localities to encourage at least 20 percentof workers to donate blood,” said the federation’s deputy head Ngo Duy Hieu.

According to Quan, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusionsaw some 1,000 people donating blood over the last weekend. The institute’s drives alsowelcomed 100 more donors thanks to viral calls on Facebook.

“Blood donation centres in HCM City, Da Nang, Can Tho and Hue have alsowitnessed an increasing number of blood donors. However, as the development ofCOVID-19 is difficult to foresee, we are taking efforts to encourage morepeople to help,” said Quan.

Nguyen Xuan Viet, Director of the Can Tho City Hospital of Hematology and BloodTransfusion, said the critical blood shortage in local medical facilities hadimproved thanks to hundreds of donors each day, mostly medical staff, patients’relatives and public servants.

Earlier last week, the hospital’s blood bank ran out and was onlyable to serve 40 percent of the hospital’s demand, with blood type O onhigh alert.

Since February 7 when a plea for blood donation was made, it has collectednearly 1,600 units of blood, sufficient for supply in emergency cases.

In HCM City, workers in the High-tech Park launched a weekend voluntaryblood donation event in collaboration with District 9 Red Cross.

“Amid the disease, we cannot launch a massive campaign. The event will takeplace at the area’s cultural hall with participants asked to properly wearface masks,” said Nguyen Minh Duc from the High-tech Park's Labour Union.

At blood donation spots across Vietnam, antiseptic solution is provided fordonors.

Besides a regular information sheet, they also have to fill inseparate questionnaires on their health status related to COVID-19syndromes.

“We also had body temperatures measured and were asked to contact the NationalInstitute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion immediately if we had a fever,cough or shortness of breath within 14 days of the donation,” Nguyen Thanh Van,a blood donor told Vietnam News ata blood centre at 26 Luong Ngoc Quyen street, Hanoi./.