Taipei, Jan. 9 (CNA) The Taiwan Blood Services Foundation on Friday issued an urgent call for blood donations, as the supply in several cities fell below the officially designated safe level of seven days.
The shortages were most severe in Taipei and Hsinchu, which had an average remaining stock of 3.6 and 3.5 days, respectively, with supplies of types AB and O blood running especially low, the foundation said.
In Taipei, stocks of type O blood were down to a 2.7-day supply, while type AB reserves dropped to 3.2 days, type A to 3.8 days and type B to 5.2 days.
In Hsinchu, levels of type AB blood had dropped to 2.7 days, type O to 2.9 days, type A to 3.3 days and type B to 5.2 days, according to the foundation.
Kaohsiung and Taichung cities were also experiencing shortages, with average remaining stocks of 4.6 days and 5.1 days, respectively, the foundation said.
Blood reserves in northern Taiwan were especially low likely because of a drop in donations due to the recent cold weather, said Hung Ying-sheng (洪英聖), a representative of the foundation.
Hung said the foundation will hold additional blood drives this month to ensure a sufficient supply during the Lunar New Year Holiday from Feb. 10-16 by building blood reserves to last ten days.
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202101090003
