Donors needed: Singapore blood supply critically low amid COVID-19 outbreak

·Senior Editor

14 February 2020 at 10:02 am·2-min read

(Getty Images file photo) — PHOTO: Getty Images

SINGAPORE — Authorities are urging Singaporeans to give blood as the country’s blood supply runs dangerously low amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

In response to Yahoo News Singapore’s queries, a Health Sciences Authority (HSA) spokesperson noted on Friday (14 February) that blood stocks in Singapore are currently “trending downwards”. Donors who are healthy and eligible are urged to come forward as patients still need blood donations during this “challenging period”.

According to the Singapore Red Cross website, the blood supply in the Republic is currently low and at critical levels for certain blood groups. To meet daily transfusion needs and bleeding emergencies in the Republic, at least six days’ blood stock must be maintained at all times.

According to the Red Cross website on 14 February 2020, the blood stock in Singapore is currently low and at a critical level for some blood groups. SCREENSHOT: RedCross.sg

Out of more than 4 million Singapore residents, there are some 75,000 blood donors in the country, representing just 1.87 per cent. Of these donors, 37 per cent are regulars.

The HSA spokesperson stressed that the risk of contracting COVID-19 while giving blood is assessed to be low, given the additional precautionary measures taken by the agency’s Blood Services Group.

Since 7 February, potential donors and their companions have been screened for fever or respiratory symptoms, such as cough or runny nose, as well as their travel history to mainland China, before they can enter the blood banks or mobile drive premises.

All persons who are unwell, on leave of absence (LOA) or have travelled to mainland China in the last 14 days are not be allowed to enter the premises.

Furthermore, staff at the blood bank are monitoring their own temperatures twice a day, and have been asked to wear masks and see a doctor if they have fever or respiratory symptoms. The frequency of cleaning has also been increased.

Coronavirus: How it's spreading in Singapore and the world

COVID-19: Catholic Church in Singapore suspends all Masses

COVID-19: Singapore economy to 'take a hit', recession possible due to outbreak - PM Lee

COVID-19: Healthcare workers get help in seeking refunds for cancelled holiday plans

The Telegraph
Xi Jinping’s vast gold war chest could let him take Taiwan without a fight
Xi Jinping has benefited in many ways from Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, not least in his single most important personal goal: to go down in history as the Chinese leader who annexed Taiwan in defiance of the West.
17 hours ago
The Telegraph
Chinese supercarrier Fujian is about to enter sea trials. Only one nation can beat her
It appears that the Fujian, China’s newest, biggest and most powerful aircraft carrier, is about to go to sea. With events in the gold market suggesting that Beijing may be preparing for war, just what does the advent of the Fujian on the world’s oceans mean for the balance of naval power?
16 hours ago
LA Times
A 17-year-old girl was fatally shot while walking home in Long Beach. Police release video of a suspect
The Long Beach Police Department wants the public's help in identifying a man suspected of shooting and killing a 17-year-old girl last month.
a day ago
SETHLUI.COM
Stay away from these markets & hawker centres scheduled for spring cleaning in May 2024
The post Stay away from these markets & hawker centres scheduled for spring cleaning in May 2024 appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
20 hours ago
The Independent
Police in violence-hit Indian state led women to mob which stripped and raped them, probe agency finds
Two women and a man, fleeing the violence, sat inside a police vehicle, begging officials to drive them to safety but they drove them to the mob instead, CBI finds
10 hours ago
Futurism
You Haven't Lived Until You've Seen This Alligator Clumsily Try to Climb Over a Fence
See You Later A particularly head-strong alligator had a hell of a time climbing a fence, as seen in a video making its rounds on Reddit. "As scary as they can be, alligators just don’t look as threatening when climbing a fence," the video's title posted to the AnimalsBeingDerps subreddit reads. The footage is just […]
2 days ago
Reuters
KFC Malaysia temporarily shutters outlets citing challenging economy
KFC Malaysia has temporarily closed outlets in the country, citing challenging economic conditions, after local media reported that the closings were because of boycotts over the fast food chain's perceived links to Israel. Malaysia, a majority-Muslim country, is a staunch supporter of the Palestinians, and some Western fast-food brands in the country, as in some other Muslim nations, have been targeted by boycott campaigns over Israel's military offensive in Gaza. QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd, which operates KFC and Pizza Hut franchises in Malaysia, said it temporarily closed KFC outlets "in response to challenging economic conditions".
2 days ago
The Telegraph
China’s $170bn gold rush triggers Taiwan invasion fears
China has built up a $170bn (£135bn) stockpile of gold after a record buying spree, in a move that has raised fears Beijing is preparing its economy for a possible conflict over Taiwan.
2 days ago
Cosmopolitan
Prince William and Kate Middleton Feel "Betrayed" by Prince Harry, "Don't Speak" to Him, and Won't See Him
Prince Harry is about to visit the UK and here's why Prince William and Kate Middleton have zero intention of seeing him.
a day ago
The Independent
Lavish 2,200-year-old tomb of Chinese emperor unearthed
Findings can provide picture of political, economic, cultural conditions of ancient China’s Chu state
2 days ago
The Independent
Putin puts captured British armoured cars and American tanks on display after they were captured in Ukraine
Display in Moscow features British Saxon armoured personnel carrier, US Bradley tank and Swedish CV90
2 days ago
The Telegraph
Keep 11, sell 18 – what our readers think Manchester United should do with their squad
On Monday, Telegraph Sport exclusively revealed Manchester United are prepared to listen to offers for the majority of their first-team squad this summer.
14 hours ago
The Independent
Ex-Indian PM’s grandson accused of filming ‘hundreds’ of videos of sexual assault
Sexual abuse row triggers political slugfest amid ongoing general elections
a day ago
INSIDER
Russian forces have hit on a cheap way to foil US precision weapons in Ukraine
The Pentagon said some US GPS-guided weapons given to Ukraine had been repeatedly stopped by Russian electronic warfare.
a day ago
Barrons.com
Bitcoin Plunges. Here’s Why and How Far Prices Could Fall.
Bitcoin sells off alongside stocks amid wider market jitters. But now the technical backdrop for cryptos is even weaker.
7 hours ago
Storyful
Surveillance Footage Shows Moment Florida Shooter Opens Fire at Party, Injuring 10
A 16-year-old shooting suspect was arrested after 10 people were injured at a party in Sanford, Florida, on Sunday, April 28, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said.Footage released by deputies shows the moment the teen allegedly opened fire at an unlicensed party.The sheriff’s office said deputies had responded to the venue prior to the shooting, following reports of a 200-strong crowd attending an event that did not have the required permit.Deputies were outside the building when they heard multiple gunshots, which dispersed the crowd.Once deputies were able to get inside, they found that a security guard had apprehended the suspect.The shooting was a result of a physical altercation, deputies said, and a second, unidentified shooter had also fired shots.Ten people sustained non-life-threatening injuries, deputies said. Nine of them had been treated and released on April 29. Credit: Seminole County Sheriff via Storyful
a day ago
BBC
Charlotte shooting: Four officers shot dead, four wounded, in North Carolina home siege
A suspect is also dead and two women face questions over one of the deadliest attacks on law enforcement for years.
a day ago
Reuters
Hong Kong businesses shut shop as city struggles to revive post pandemic
When Jacky Yu, 48, opened his Japanese gift shop in Hong Kong more than a decade ago, the tourist and shopping district of Mong Kok was a bustling hub packed with stalls, street food and tourists. Fast-forward 12 years and parts of the area are struggling to stay afloat, a combination of customers emigrating, locals heading across the border to shop in China or travelling to Japan to benefit from a weak yen - and a dearth of tourists. "There are very few tourists on the streets, even the mainland Chinese are very few."
2 days ago
HuffPost
Barack Obama Hits Donald Trump With A Harsh Truth About His Hometown
The former president also told "Smartless" podcast hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes what had surprised him about the GOP.
2 days ago
INSIDER
Massive drone strike suggests Ukraine is going after Russia's devastating glide bombs
Russia has increasingly relied on glide-bomb strikes to hammer Ukrainian positions on the front lines and in the rear over the past few months.
a day ago

Latest stories