Blood supply up, but donations neededCOVID-19 DISRUPTION: While more people have begun donating again, hospitals have resumed previously suspended procedures, so demand for blood is likely to riseBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterAlthough the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation yesterday said the nation’s blood supply is gradually increasing, as the local COVID-19 situation has improved, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) encouraged people to donate blood, as surgeries that had been postponed are also resuming. The blood bank in Taipei now has an average of about 7.7 days of blood supply available: 6.4 days of type A blood, 8.8 days of type B, 8.3 days of type O and 5.4 days of type AB, Li said. He said the Taiwan Blood Service Foundation has been doing a great job in maintaining the quality and steady supply of blood in Taiwan. While fewer people were willing to donate blood after the middle of May, the blood supply has recently increased, he said. He encouraged people to continue donating blood, saying that people can make a reservation online on the foundation’s Web site.

Source: Taipei Times August 29, 2021 15:56 UTC