“Many had planned to be here anyway because they were aware of danger to the blood supply right now brought on by COVID-19,” CBC spokesman Mark Pompilio said.
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Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley donated blood on Wednesday, and later encouraged others to do the same during the daily Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County press conference to update the community on the coronavirus.
PHOTOS: People respond to call for blood donors
The surgeon general as well as Gov. Mike DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton, Ohio Health Director, also made similar pleas for healthy people to give blood.
“Some responded to that. It’s encouraging and luckily we made room for them,” Pompilio said.
The CBC created makeshift donor rooms because so many people came in on Thursday. The only comparison was a similar response after the 9/11 terror attacks when so many people came in, Pompilio said.
Now, the CBS has expanded weekend hours to include Sunday to encourage more people to donate.
“It is a bit of a contradictory message when there’s so much being said about staying home and keeping distances. It seems like a contradiction for people to come out and go to something where other people are gathering, but as you can see we’re keeping it very controlled and as safe as possible,” Pompilio said.
People also can be assured that they will not unintentionally make someone sick with the coronavirus by giving blood, he said.
“The assurance to the blood supply is that this coronavirus is not transmitted through transfusion. There’s never been any evidence of transmission through transfusion,”Pompilio said.
Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment at donortime.com but walk-ins are accepted.
Dayton Center Hours
Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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