Sri Lanka, March 19 -- As the national blood reserves are rapidly depleting with the prevailing outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19), the National Blood Transfusion Centre (NBTC) has appealed to the general public to donate blood.

A special hotline - 0115 332153 - has been introduced for donors to avoid overcrowding at the National Blood Centre during blood donation. Blood donors can also contact the blood bank at Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama: 0112 849 525.

Accordingly, donors can call aforementioned hotlines to make an appointment to donate blood.

The NBTC has noted that any individual who

* Had symptoms like fever, cough and respiratory difficulties during past one month

* Has a family member currently having fever, cough and respi...