2801 Via Fortuna, Suite 400
Austin, TX 78746
www.bplplasma.com
To Whom it May Concern:
BPL Plasma operates 51 blood plasma donor centers in the U.S. These centers are considered part of the nation’s “critical infrastructure industry” according to the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America, which state, “If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule.”1, 2
Plasma, a portion of human blood, is donated at BPL Plasma centers and is used to manufacture lifesaving medicines (including for immunocompromised individuals). Therefore, these centers, including their employees and donors, are within the category of essential, critical infrastructure (healthcare and pharmaceutical supply) that is exempted from general lockdown or closure pursuant to the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Employees are traveling to and from BPL Plasma facilities to perform their critical and essential work activities. Likewise, donors traveling to and from our collection centers who carry a BPL Plasma Donor Payment (Debit) Card are doing so in furtherance of the exempted critical activity of donating plasma.
BPL Plasma centers have implemented mitigation strategies and procedures that align with recent guidance/orders from local, state and federal authorities (including shelter-in-place and related orders) developed to control the spread of COVID-19 while maintaining critical and essential services. These measures include social distancing and decreasing donor congregation, enhancing existing cleaning protocols, monitoring employee and donor temperatures, and following guidelines on hand hygiene.
We will continue to closely monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to follow the guidance that is communicated by health authorities. The health and safety of all our employees and donors is BPL Plasma’s top priority.
Thank you.
Marvin Dyke
President
Downloadble Version: Donor Letter (PDF)