Ex-official says virus hasn't halted organ donations

The COVID-19 pandemic has not seriously affected organ donations in China, with a slight fall in the number of donors expected this year, a former vice-minister of health said on Thursday.

"Organ donations have not been interrupted in most areas in China this year despite the epidemic," said Huang Jiefu, also director of the China National Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee. "The number of organ donors this year may decrease a little compared with last year."

However, in some other countries, organ donations have been suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and large declines in donations are expected this year, he said.