Bangladesh
Oxygen Crisis Oxygen demand more than doubles as Covid-19 cases rise
Dhaka, July 8: Even 15 to 20 days ago, the oxygen supply was at a normal rate. Oxygen manufacturers did not have to struggle to supply. However, producers are now under pressure to supply oxygen.
However, there is no oxygen crisis at present, said Linde Bangladesh and Spectra Oxygen Limited, the two largest manufacturers in the country.
These two companies supply oxygen to all government hospitals in the country. According to them, the demand for oxygen has more than doubled in recent times. At the same time, they have cut off the supply of industrial gas to maintain the supply of medical oxygen.
According to the Department of Health, the number of patients increased by more than 50 percent in a week from June 26 to July 3. In the previous week, 35,000 patients were identified, but later it exceeded 53,000. With it, the death rate increased by 46 percent. In the six days since July 3, 47,526 patients have been identified and 815 have died.
The number of empty beds and ICUs in the hospital is decreasing as the number of patients increases. Moreover, there are more patients compared to beds in 13 hospitals across the country, including Dhaka.
According to the latest data provided by the Department of Health, 60 per cent of coronavirus beds in the country are hospitalized and only 25 per cent of ICUs are vacant across the country.
Health department officials said the demand for oxygen in the country varies from time to time. Earlier the highest demand was between 200-220 tons. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Only two companies, Linde and Spectra, are currently supplying up to 170 tonnes. The rest of the demand is being met by supplying from other companies for the time being.
However, there is no oxygen crisis at the moment. If the demand increases further, the supply of oxygen can be arranged through plants located in various heavy industrial plants of the country.
The country's multinational oxygen producer, Linde, imports liquid oxygen from India. Imports have resumed from India two-and-a-half months after the cessation due to the increase in coronavirus infection. The Benapole port has imported 778 metric tonnes of oxygen from India in the last two weeks, according to the land port authorities.
