The coronavirus may have led to heavy restrictions but the Orange Donor Centre is still open for blood and plasma donations with about 40 appointments required this week.
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Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is asking people to book appointments so the service can keep blood flowing to patients across the country with about 29,000 donations needed across Australia each week.
Although the donor centre remains open a Lifeblood spokesman said the safety of donors, staff and patients was the top priority so extra precautions have been taken.
A statement released by the organisation said there was no evidence that coronavirus was transmissible by blood transfusion, and strict screening process mean it did not allow people who were unwell to donate blood.
Nathan Underwood donated plasma at the centre in Kite Street on Saturday and said the chairs in the waiting room had been moved 1.5 metres apart and staff wiped down doors when clients came through and wiped down equipment between each use.
Mr Underwood said he decided to donate after a longer than usual gap in donations after seeing an advertisement either online or on TV.
"I will go back to my regular once a month donation while I'm still healthy and able to do it," he said.
"I think if people are feeling healthy, especially if they are not able to work at the moment they could do something with their time and go down and donate."
In addition to the extra hospital-level cleaning cleaning processes, restriction of non-donating visitors, and social distancing measures, the donor centre is also only letting people into the facility if they feel well.
Lifeblood has also introduced a 28-day postponement for donors returning from any overseas country, anyone who has been in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus.
Anyone who has had coronavirus will not be able to donate for three months after their recovery.
In the past, people with a mild runny nose with no fever were allowed to donate plasma but now anyone with minor cold-like symptoms will be deferred until they are recovered.
People are encouraged to book appointments by calling 13 14 95, visiting donateblood.com or downloading the Donate Blood app on their phones.
Donors should book their appointments before attending so the Orange Donor Centre can manage the flow while adhering to social distancing criteria.
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Tanya Marschke
I am based at Orange and cover a wide range of subjects as well as the weekly business column. I've worked consistently in the the media industry since 2006 including the past seven years at the Central Western Daily. Before moving to Orange, I worked as a journalist at weekly newspapers the Beaudesert Times and the Gold Coast Sun in Queensland, as well as the Scone Advocate in the Hunter Valley. I started my career at the Ridge News in Lightning Ridge while I completed my journalism studies remotely at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst.
I am based at Orange and cover a wide range of subjects as well as the weekly business column. I've worked consistently in the the media industry since 2006 including the past seven years at the Central Western Daily. Before moving to Orange, I worked as a journalist at weekly newspapers the Beaudesert Times and the Gold Coast Sun in Queensland, as well as the Scone Advocate in the Hunter Valley. I started my career at the Ridge News in Lightning Ridge while I completed my journalism studies remotely at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst.
