Coronavirus

Peru runs out of oxygen amid second wave

Santa Rosa Lima Hospital unloading oxygen cylinders. Photo: Arturo Crisanto/Shutterstock
Santa Rosa Lima Hospital unloading oxygen cylinders. Photo: Arturo Crisanto/Shutterstock

Linde Perú, a medical oxygen supplier, warned today that the Peruvian healthcare system is on the verge of collapse as demand for oxygen supplies has skyrocketed by 300 percent.

The company currently supplies 300 hospitals and urged authorities to look for alternative suppliers as it has reached its maximum production capacity. “Today, consumption reached our capacity of 200 tons per day. This is 300 percent above pre-pandemic levels,” said the company in a statement.

Health Ministry data shows that, as of January 19, 1,696 Covid-19 patients in intensive care required ventilators.

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