- “The blood we donor today could save lives. I hope that more and more people could give their blood. This humanitarian act could help improve the health of the wider community amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.”  

- “I’m young and I think giving blood is a way I share the difficulty with the community and patients. When you give people hope, you receive happiness.” 
Doctor Nguyen Dang Lam from Phu Yen Province’s General Hospital and farmer Nguyễn Truyền Thống from Tuy Hòa, Phu Yen Province are two of the blood donors. They said there has been a serious lack of blood for emergencies and treatments since the Lunar New Year holiday, especially after the onset of the coronavirus. Subsequently, several blood donation drives have been held across the country.

People donate blood at Hue Central Hospital in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue (Photo: VNA/VNS)

From April 1 to now, more than 600 youth union members, workers and officials in Thua Thien Hue province have participated in blood donation efforts. Quach Tri is a member of a local blood donation club. “The blood you give is a lifeline in an emergency and for patients who need blood transfusion or in long-term treatments. I have a special blood type and also be a member of the blood donation club of the Thua Thien Hue province. I attend blood donation campaigns and give my blood regularly.”

Frontliners who have been working tirelessly to treat Covid-19 patients, donated blood to save people. Dr. Nguyen Duc Thai Nam, who works at Hue Central Hospital's Anesthesia Department, said: “Medical staff are the ones who best know how important blood donation is. So I donor my blood once or twice a year, which I hope could help more and more people.”

A foreigner donates blood in Hanoi on March 18 (Photo: Hoang Viet)

University students, a large proportion of blood donors, have not yet returned to major cities due to prolonged school closures. During this social distancing period, people do not want to go to blood banks, and especially the ones within hospitals, because of fear of getting infected with COVID-19. 

Hue Center for Hematology and Blood Transfusion and Hue Central Hospital receive blood sources on the basis of ensuring a safe reserve for blood donors. Doctor Dong Si Sang, Deputy Director in charge of the Center for Hematology and Blood Transfusion said. “We receive blood donors one by one and make sure that the donors stay at least 2 meters away from each other. Donors will have to be asked questions about travel history, have temperature checked, and screened for any respiratory symptoms when they show up.”

Giving blood is already a highly sanitized procedure, but it has become even more so during the coronavirus pandemic.