Safety of Donor and Recipient in COVID-19 Pandemic

Novel corona virus is a new strain of corona virus family, caused by SARS-CoV-2, probably of bat origin, not previously identified in humans. The time between entry of virus in body and start of first symptoms is the incubation period of the disease. For COVID-19 the incubation period is from two days to fourteen days. COVID-19 disease spreads through small droplets from nose and mouth. Spread is also through skin contacts and even through air while speaking. Blood is an integral part of the healthcare system. During the COVID-19 pandemic blood transfusion services were affected worldwide. The blood transfusion service had to face many challenges also in India. Voluntary blood donation was decreased which is the main source of blood and blood components. In lockdown, problems of transport services, less staff, fear of getting infected all these factors affected the blood donation services. This pandemic has influenced the blood donation activities causing shortage of blood and blood components and thus affected the blood inventory. Hence the blood services had to make appropriate plans to meet the requirements of patients.