03/16/2020-The American Red Cross has raised another concern about the outbreak of coronavirus in the United States: a potential blood shortage. Cold and flu season already has hampered blood donations and with the rise of the coronavirus, the number of people eligible to give blood for patients in need could decrease even further. With that in mind, Red Cross officials are urging healthy, eligible individuals to give blood or platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply. No data or evidence has shown that coronavirus can be transmissible by blood transfusion, but nonetheless the Red Cross has implemented new blood donation deferrals out of an abundance of caution. Individuals are asked to postpone their donation for 28 days after international travel, diagnosis of COVID-19, or contact with a person who has or is suspected to have the virus. Upcoming blood drives are being planned in both Marinette and Menominee Counties and you can view dates, times, and locations or schedule an appointment to give at red-cross-blood-dot-org.