AS an essential service within South Africa, the South African National Blood Service appeals to donors from all blood groups to continue donating blood to prevent blood stocks running critically low and placing the lives of our fellow South African at risk.
All donor centres will remain open with extended operating hours to accommodate social distancing measures.
Extended operating hours will be between 08:00 and 19:00 on weekdays and 08:00 and 14:00 on weekends. Appointments can be made directly with your nearest donor. Travel to the various donor centres will be considered essential travel.
As precautionary measures and to ensure the safety of blood and blood products during this time, the following deferrals remain in effect:
. people who have travelled to affected countries outside of South Africa will be deferred for 21 days,
. people with confirmed cases of Coronavirus infection will be deferred for 28 days from the date of complete clearance of symptoms, and
. people who have been in close contact with confirmed or probable Coronavirus cases will be deferred for 21 days from the last date of contact.
During this difficult time let us heed the call of our President:
“In the days, weeks and months ahead, our resolve, our resourcefulness and our unity as a nation will be tested as never before. I call upon all of us, one and all, to play our part. To be courageous, to be patient and above all, to show compassion.”
