Blood supply and demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. A review

The rapid spread of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was first reported in Wuhan (China) in late December 2019, and produces the disease characterized by pneumonia called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused a significant impact on health systems worldwide and disruption of daily life; at the end of June the number of confirmed cases is 9,188,362 million with more than 474,339 deaths, and approximately 4,937,282 people recovered. Strict measures to restrict mobility, social distancing measures imposed by governments, plus overwhelming fear and panic among the general public, have significantly compromised the sustainability of the safe blood supply, it becomes particularly challenging. The demand for blood and blood products may decrease during a pandemic due to the postponement of elective surgeries, measures such as physical distancing and the total blockade of cities, provinces or countries that try to stop the spread of the infection can cause a significant decrease in the supply and a general shortage of blood products. Hospitals must have a blood management plan for emergencies in preparedness planning on the sustainability and safety of the blood supply. This review considers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood supply and specifies important aspects of donor management, and the proper use of blood components.