The Albury blood bank is weathering the coronavirus storm, with border closures and increased restrictions in Victoria having an impact on donation numbers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Being an essential service, the Lifeblood donor centre said Victorian donors can still keep their appointments and cross at the border checkpoint.
"We know some of our Victorian donors may be finding it challenging to keep their appointments, given the increased restrictions on border crossing," Lifeblood spokeswoman Nicky Breen said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"Blood only has a shelf life of 42 days and we need our dedicated donors to keep rolling up our sleeves to help save lives.
"Blood and blood products go to treat some of the most vulnerable members of our community including cancer patients, people with blood disorders, trauma victims as well as expectant and new mums."
The donor centre didn't respond to questions about how many people have had issues obtaining a permit to donate blood or how many cancellations had been made since the border closed.
"Our donor centres are strictly regulated clinical spaces and only healthy people are eligible to give blood," Ms Breen said.
"We have also implemented a range of measures to protect our donors and teams including: wellness checks before entering the centre, social distancing wherever possible and increased cleaning of frequently used items."
The Albury donor centre is also requiring donors to wear a mask.
