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Red Cross blood shortages more acute after thousands of drives canceled over coronavirus pandemic

There are measures that have been put in place to protect the desperately-needed donors.

ATLANTA — Right now, the Red Cross is dealing with a severe blood shortage, after more than 7,000 blood drives were canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic.

There are increased safety measures in place to help donors and Red Cross workers stay safe, including taking temperatures of donors and volunteers before they enter the drive, spacing out donation beds, increasing the use of sanitizer and limiting donors at each drive. 

It also means donors have to make an appointment.  

Just go to RedCrossBlood.org and enter your zip code to find the nearest drive. And if those spots are full, click on the next drive until you find a spot.

RELATED: Get help during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Red Cross says they are hoping to book more drives in the days and weeks to come to help make up for the 200,000 blood donations they lost from the canceled drives. 

You can also go to their website and click on “host a drive” if you can help. 

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