American Red Cross declares ‘national blood crisis’ amid pandemic shortage

Blood centers across US have less than a day's supply of some types, organization says, as Covid fuels decline in blood drives

The American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis" as the US faces its worst blood shortage in over a decade, predominantly due to a drop in blood drives as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In recent weeks, blood centers across the country have reported less than a one-day's supply of blood of certain critical blood types - a dangerously low level. If the nation's blood supply does not stabilize soon, life-saving blood may not be available for some patients when it is needed," the Red Cross said in a joint statement with America's Blood Centers and the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies.