COVID-19 recovered patient can donate blood

No. There are no guidelines available. Some centers say three months. But if he/she wants to donate plasma for serious COVID-infected cases, it can be done right away.

Avoid blood donation in COVID-19 situation

No. Most blood banks have introduced a postponement period of 28 days for donation for donors returning from overseas following updated public health advice that anyone coming from overseas is considered to have returned from a high- or moderate-risk country and should practice social distancing outside of work.

A 28-day postponement has been introduced for any donors who have been in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus. This means that if someone has been in contact with a person who has had coronavirus and was infectious at the time then he/she will not be able to donate for 28 days.

If someone has had coronavirus himself, he will not be able to donate for three months following recovery.

Earlier, people with a mild runny nose with no fever were allowed to donate plasma. Blood banks follow that anyone with minor cold-like symptoms will be deferred until they are recovered.

Media reports claim 40 crore Indians will contract coronavirus, and attribute it to John Hopkins University

It’s a fake news: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/times-fact-check/news/fake-alert-media-reports-claim-40-crore-indians-will-contract-coronavirus-falsely-attribute-it-to-john-hopkins-university/articleshowprint/74860940.cms

Coronavirus can transmit by blood donation

No. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States earlier this year, the AABB Inter organizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism, in association with the blood collection establishments, has been evaluating the evolving public health situation and preparing for potential further spread.

According to the US FDA, there have been no reported or suspected cases of transfusion-transmitted COVID-19. No cases of transfusion-transmission have ever been reported for the other two coronaviruses that emerged during the past two decades (SARS and MERS-CoV).

There seems to be no risk of contracting COVID-19 through the blood donation process or through blood transfusion. Respiratory viruses are generally not known to be transmitted by means of blood donation or transfusion.

Air ambulances are not safe

Just because the Philippines plane crashed does not mean air ambulances are not safe. A plane used as an air ambulance to fight the coronavirus outbreak burst into flames as it took off from Manila’s airport for Japan on Sunday night. All eight people aboard were killed, including medical workers.

R0 estimate is higher in healthcare or long-term care facilities

 There is no evidence as yet.

Healthcare workers can be prevented

Healthcare worker illnesses (over 1,000) demonstrate human-to human transmission despite isolation, PPE, and infection control. [(U) Schnirring L. New coronavirus infects health workers, spreads to Korea. http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/01/newcoronavirus-infects-health-workers-spreads-korea.

There is no difference between porous and non-porous material as far as COVID-19 infection is concerned

Porous hospital materials, including paper and cotton cloth, maintain infectious SARS-CoV for a shorter of time compared with non-porous material. [(U) Lai MY, Cheng PK, Lim WW. Survival of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2005;41(7):e67-e71.]

The reduction in CFR through time is an indication of better treatment, less overcrowding, or both

We have no answer as on today

Tests cannot be false positive or negative

False positive/negative rates for tests are not known.

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA