Muscat:There is a 40 per cent decline in blood donations in the country due to coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, a top official at the Ministry of Health said on Sunday.

Dr Zainab bint Salim Al Fanna Al Araimi, Director of Blood Banks Services at the Ministry of Health have urged donors to donate blood. “Due to COVID-19 and the limited time during Ramadan for donation, it has been noticed that there is a 40% reduction in the number of blood donors who comes to the Central Blood Bank,” she said.

“Over the past years, especially during Ramadhan, we used to organize blood donation campaigns in the mosques and markets, however, in this current situation (due to coronavirus), the number of donors has decreased, as Muslims can only donate after breaking fasting ‪till 12 a.m.‬ in the midnight,” she noted.

According to Dr. Zainab, Muscat Governorate alone needs 70 – 100 blood units daily to supply the Governorate health institutions. “Patients with genetic blood diseases, tumours patients or those from traffic accidents who have lost a lot of blood are the ones in need,” she said.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Zainab assured that the Department has taken all the necessary measures to protect donors in the Central Blood Bank including the social distance between each donor and other, and determining the number of donors in each time. Moreover, the appointment system has been activated through WhatsApp (‪94555648‬).

During Ramadan, blood donors will be received ‪from 8 a.m. till 1 p.m.‬ in the Sultanate and ‪from 7 p.m. till 12 a.m.‬

Al-Seeb Sports Complex has been prepared to receive a large number of blood donors both citizens and residents.