Surgeon General tells young Americans to donate blood and save lives

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THE SURGEON General urged people to donate blood as the coronavirus pandemic continues to see increasing cases across the U.S.

“We know many of you are home practicing the President’s guidelines for social distancing, but one thing we should all consider – especially our Millenials and Gen-Z – is donating blood,” Dr. Jerome Adams said at a COVID-19 press briefing at the White House on Thursday.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams urged Americans to give blood amid the coronavirus pandemic

“As an anesthesiologist who still practices at Walter Reed taking care of our wounded warriors and our soldiers, I know donated blood is an essential part of caring for patients – and one donation can save up to three lives,” Adams said.

“Blood centers are open now in a need of your donation,” he added urging people to go donate as the country faces the pandemic.

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. surpassed 10,000 on Thursday, with at least 168 deaths.

Although many people around the globe are working to social distance and take precautions to limit virus spread, Adams urged people to take time and help those in need.

He assured that blood centers are also taking extra precautions to prevent COVID-19 spread.

“I want America to know that blood donation is safe and blood centers are taking extra precautions at this time based on new CDC recommendations, including spacing beds six feet apart, disinfecting surfaces between patients, temperature checking staff, and encouraging donators to make appointments ahead of time so we can space them out,” he said.

“Social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement. So give blood. Today.

You’ll feel good about it, and you’ll be helping your community and your country during this crisis. And you might even save a life,” he added.

Adams’ comments came the same day as he begged social influencers like Kylie Jenner and Kevin Durant to urge their fans to stay home and avoid going out unnecessarily.

Adams' comments came the same day as he begged social media influencers like Kylie Jenner and Kevin Durant to urge fans to stay home

Adams’ comments came the same day as he begged social media influencers like Kylie Jenner and Kevin Durant to urge fans to stay home

At the press conference Thursday, Trump said two new anti-malarial drugs are showing promise in trials for COVID-19 treatment

At the press conference Thursday, Trump said two new anti-malarial drugs are showing promise in trials for COVID-19 treatment

Many young people – particularly college students – have continued to go out in groups and ignored pleas from officials to practice social distancing.

Even if they get coronavirus, some teens said they will continue to party in Florida amid the pandemic.

At the White House press conference Thursday, Trump changed his former rhetoric of praising Chinese President Xi Jinping’s swift response to the coronavirus, to one of blaming China for covering the outbreak up, as he claims.

“It would have been much better if we had known about this a number of months earlier,” he said of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“It could have been contained to that one area in China where it started.”

Trump has called COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus,” referring geographically to where it originated.

He has been slammed as “racist” and former Vice President Joe Biden slammed the President for “xenophobic fear-mongering” with the name.

The virus has spread to more than 100 countries around the globe and affected people of all races, with Italy on Thursday surpassing China’s total death toll.

For the first time since the outbreak peaked, China reported no new domestic cases of COVID-19 yesterday.

Many spring breakers have ignored pleas from officials to practice social distancing

Many spring breakers have ignored pleas from officials to practice social distancing

Beaches in Florida were crowded this week, despite the global pandemic

Beaches in Florida were crowded this week, despite the global pandemic

The National Guard helped direct cars at a drive-through testing station in Staten Island

The National Guard helped direct cars at a drive-through testing station in Staten Island

A sign at the drive-through testing station read 'KEEP WINDOWS CLOSED'
A sign at the drive-through testing station read ‘KEEP WINDOWS CLOSED’

The President and FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn also informed the nation at the press conference that two FDA-approved anti-malarial drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine – are undergoing clinical trials as possible COVID-19 treatments.

Trump said the drugs have shown “tremendous promise” in treating coronavirus, and “could be a game changer.”

The drug remesdivir – which is not FDA-approved is also currently undergoing trials for COVID-19 treatments.