By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – With the novel Coronavirus putting a stronghold on blood donations, a spokesperson for the American Red Cross says the demand for blood is high.

Speaking with WJBC’s Scott Miller, Steve Stoewer, Director of Blood Services at the American Red Cross, said blood donations are two-fold.

“With COVID, what the Red Cross is doing right now is with all blood donations that are happening for a limited time, we are testing them for COVID antibodies. Every donation that’s made, you will find out whether you’ve been exposed to the COVID virus and you’re carrying those antibodies. What that means is its good to know as a donor, whether you have had that and then also for the Red Cross and the patients and the hospitals that we work with.”

Stoewer added that if COVID-19 antibodies are found, blood plasma can help people with the Coronavirus.

“You as a blood donor will find out your status, and then you could possibly help further and directly a COVID patient. The ongoing need for blood is great in the summer months…The thing that’s really harder this year, of course, with the pandemic is the lack of being able to do drives at businesses and schools.”

For donors looking to donate, blood donations can be made on August 17th at the Holiday Inn and Suites ballroom on East Empire in Bloomington. Donations can be made from 12 to 5:30 p.m.

The Red Cross encourages donors to wear a mask and to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].