While the holiday season always presents a challenge for blood donations, the Red Cross lifeblood service says donor numbers have plummeted this year because of COVID-19.
The majority of people who were booked in to donate blood have missed their appointments, prompting an urgent call for thousands of donors to roll up their sleeves and donate.
The Red Cross Lifeblood donor centre network says COVID-19 is behind the cancellations.
The PCR test requirement for entry into a number of states, as well as a surge in the number of people being identified as close contacts and requiring testing, has caused a blowout in wait times with some results taking up to six days to return.
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