• State Minister says health authorities could manage the present number of cases with available stocks
• 12 liquid Oxygen cylinders with 20 -ton capacity in each would be imported through six companies 

By Kelum Bandara  

With the spike of Covid -19 patients needing breathing support, the government placed orders for the import of liquid Oxygen from India and Singapore, a Minister said.   

State Minister of Production , Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana told Daily Mirror that though the health authorities could manage the present number of cases with available stocks , the order was placed in anticipation of any increase in the case-load in the future . 

 
The State Minister said 12 liquid Oxygen cylinders with 20 -ton capacity in each would be imported through six companies .  

Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said as many as 30 percent of symptomatic patients require Oxygen support according to rough calculations.  

“We cannot calculate the exact figure due to practical reasons. Patients are sometimes put on Oxygen support . 
Then their conditions normalize . After that they are transferred back . It is a dynamic situation . Roughly ,I can say 30 percent of symptomatic patients need such support ,” he said. 

 
He said the sudden spike of patients is probably due to Delta variant .