The American Red Cross is urging healthy residents to make an appointment and donate blood as the country faces a “severe blood shortage” due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Nearly 2,700 Red Cross blood drives have been canceled, resulting in about 86,000 fewer donations and more cancellations are expected.

“I am looking at the refrigerator that contains only one day’s supply of blood for the hospital,” said Dr. Robertson Davenport, director of Transfusion Medicine at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor. “The hospital is full. There are patients who need blood and cannot wait.”

On top of the thousands of blood drives being canceled, the American Association of Blood Banks says there's been a significant decrease in people coming to blood centers to donate.

Eduardo Nunes, Vice President of Quality, Standards, and Accreditation at AABB, said most hospitals are down to a blood supply of two to three days.

Smaller hospitals have been told by suppliers they'll be receiving 25% less blood than usual, and most hospitals have canceled some elective surgeries to stretch out their supply. An adequate blood supply also is needed in the event of car crashes and other medical emergencies.

Nunes said the best cure for the national blood shortage is for young, healthy people to make an appointm with their local blood bank and donate.

"There’s no alternative source of blood," he said. "It’s the easiest way to save a life during this pandemic."

Dr. Claudia Cohn, AABB's Chief Medical Officer, said older people tend to donate blood more regularly than younger ones, but now they need to stay home for their own safety since they are most at risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

"The people we depend on most are the people who are threatened most," she said.

Blood drives across the country have been cancelled because of concerns about congregating at workplaces, college campuses and schools. More than 80% of the blood collected by The Red Cross comes from such locations.

Though events have been cancelled, the organization urged individuals who are feeling healthy to schedule an appointment to give blood.

“We understand why people may be hesitant to come out for a blood drive but want to reassure the public that blood donation is a safe process,” said Gail McGovern, president and chief executive officer of the American Red Cross.

The Red Cross said it has implemented new safety measures for donor and staff members including temperature checks, hand sanitizer, enhanced disinfecting processes and bed spacing to follow social distancing practices.

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It’s unknown if COVID-19 can be transmitted through blood transfusion. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said in general, respiratory viruses are not known to be transmitted by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases of transfusion-transmission of any coronavirus worldwide.

The FDA said in early February people who traveled to areas with COVID-19 outbreaks wait at least 28 days before donating blood, which may have contributed to the shortage. However, the agency still echoes blood banks' urgent call-to-action.

Said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in an AABB press release last week: "We need people to start turning out in force to give blood."

How to help: The Red Cross is asking people who are feeling healthy and well and are eligible to give blood or platelets to make an appointment to donate through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.