Indonesia ramps up oxygen output, dozens die amid scarcity

JAKARTA REUTERS July 4  - Indonesia has ordered oxygen makers to prioritise medical needs amid growing demand from COVID-19 patients, the government said on Sunday, following more than 60 deaths in a hospital where supply of the life-saving gas was almost exhausted.   

 The world’s fourth most populous nation is battling one of Asia’s worst coronavirus outbreaks, with Saturday’s 27,913 infections becoming the newest of many peaks during the last two weeks.   

 In a statement, the Sardjito hospital on the island of Java said 63 patients died after it nearly ran out of oxygen over the period from Saturday until early on Sunday, when fresh supplies arrived.   

The hospital said that for days before the incident it had sought more supplies of oxygen, but virus patients streaming in since Friday had pushed it beyond its capacity, consuming supply sooner than expected. 

 
 The crisis eased when it began to receive more supplies just before dawn on Sunday.