Prof. Dr. H. Kaya Süer said “There are patient groups that need regular blood, especially thalassemia and cancer patients. It is expected for people to abstain from going to blood banks and making donations under the present circumstances. However, it is important to meet this need."
Prof. Dr. H. Kaya Süer calling on the people to donate blood, said "There is no data that indicates Covid-19 has an impact on blood safety." Noting that no infection developed due to blood transfusion has been reported in the past epidemics of SARS CoV and MERS CoV." Prof. Dr. H. Kaya Süer stated that the Disease Control Center (CDC) and the Food and Drug Association (FDA) did not make a recommendation to blood institutions regarding blood transfusion because there was no data showing that Covid-19 had an impact on blood safety.
Prof. Dr. H. Kaya Süer; “There is a need to fill blood bank stocks with blood donations from healthy persons.”
It is also stated by blood institutions that individuals are not at risk of being infected by Covid-19 during the blood donation process or blood transfusion. Stating that the blood bank stocks should be filled with blood donations made by healthy people, Prof. Dr. H. Kaya Süer said “Donate blood if you don't have Covid-19 or another health disability.”
Prof. Dr. H. Kaya Süer explained that the Covid-19 possible case definitions gathered in three subgroups and pointed out the importance and necessity of people who do not comply with these definitions and who do not have any other disability to donate blood.
Covid-19 Possible Case Definitions
Possible Case A:
· At least one of the signs and symptoms of fever and acute respiratory disease (cough and respiratory distress) is present and the clinical picture cannot be explained by another disease and there is a 14-days abroad history before the symptoms begin.
Possible Case B:
· At least one of the signs and symptoms of acute respiratory disease (cough and respiratory distress) is present and close contact with the confirmed Covid-19 case within 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms
Possible Case C:
Having at least one of the signs and symptoms of fever and severe acute respiratory infection (cough and respiratory distress), and
Presence of hospitalization requirement (SARI) and the clinical picture cannot be explained by another cause/disease
*YELLOW; The need for hospitalization due to fever, cough, and shortness of breath, increased respiratory rate, decreased oxygen intake, low blood pressure, widespread radiological findings and altered consciousness in a patient with acute respiratory infection developing in the past 14 days.