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Canadian Blood Services are urging Londoners to continue to donate amid a spike in appointment cancellations due to fears caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Calling it a worrying trend, officials with the national organization blamed the cancellations – seen in several cities across the country – on donors trying to avoiding interacting with other people.

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“Individual and group cancellations can have a dramatic impact on patients in Canada who continue to need blood products to treat cancers, trauma, and many surgeries,” said Delphine Denis, a Canadian Blood Services’ spokesperson.

Despite the current pandemic, donating blood was safe, Denis said, noting Canadian Blood Services implements strict screening processes for all donors.

“We have a strong record of responding quickly and effectively to public health issues, as demonstrated in the past with West Nile Virus, Chagas, SARS, MERS, Zika and H1N1,” she said.