Donors line up within inches of other at Gulfport plasma center amid COVID-19 pandemic
An official at CSL Plasma in Gulfport said the business has a security guard on duty to ensure donors are practicing social distancing due to the coronavirus threat, but that wasn’t the case Monday.
More than 20 donors stood within inches of one another around noon Monday in a line that led outside the businesses at U.S. 49 near Creosote Road.
“Where is the social distancing in this line?” a reader asked after she got a picture of the crowd.
The Sun Herald reached out to CSL Plasma to find out what was going on Monday, but was referred to the corporate office for comments.
“I was informed that we do have donors that are standing outside the business,” CSL Plasma spokesperson Robert Mitchell said Monday night. “Unfortunately, the lines are a little longer than normal because yesterday (Sunday), we had a plumbing issue so we had to close our business.”
The security guard, Mitchell said, is supposed to make sure those who show up follow the healthcare recommendations to maintain a social distance of 6-feet in an effort to reduce the chances of someone being infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes announced Monday a shelter-in-place order and curfew that does allow essential businesses, such blood and plasma donation sites, to remain open as long they adhere to health guidelines regarding social distancing and other factors.
However, Hewes said businesses that are allowed to remain open must limit their customers to 5% of the permitted occupancy requirements, excluding employees.
Since the first coronavirus case was reported in Mississippi on March 11, the Mississippi State Health Department has reported 937 cases. Of those, 45 are in Harrison County with one death, another 16 in Hancock County with another death, and 40 in Jackson County.
Mitchell said there has not been an increase in donors who are trying to make some quick cash from donating plasma at the Gulfport location.
“We are not seeing more people donate,” he said. “We actually could use more donations. We are trying our best to ensure we keep a supply of plasma.”
Anyone who ignores the “Safer at Home” order in Gulfport could face a fine of up to $300 and/or up to six months in jail. A first-offense violation applies to business managers and supervisors at a business and second offense violation applies to the patrons as well.
