Khulna Division on Saturday witnessed its highest daily Covid-19 deaths as a sudden surge in Covid cases in in the division has left many patients gasping for breath due to an apparent shortage of medical oxygen in some hospitals.
A record 22 daily Covid-19 deaths were reported in Khulna Division in the last 24 hours, while 625 infections were detected in 10 districts, according to Khulna health department's daily update.
The demand for the life-saving gas has, in fact, doubled in the district in the past one month.
At Khulna Dedicated Covid Hospital, for instance, the number of patients is rising by the day. But the hospital is being forced to turn many of them away due to lack of vacant oxygen and ICU beds. The worst hit are the elderly patients.
Sajeeb Raihan, in-charge of Khulna Depot Spectra Oxygen Limited (SOL), said, “The demand for the live-saving gas has doubled as compared to May."
"Earlier the demand for small cylinders (1.36 cubic metres) was 200 daily, but now it has surged to 400 a day. Similarly, the demand for large cylinders (6.8 cubic metres) has risen to 400 daily from last month's figure of 200-259 daily," he said.
Already liquid oxygen tanks have been installed at Khulna Medical College and Hospital, Sadar Hospital and Gopalganj Hospital, he said.
According to Sajeeb, many private hospitals are also witnessing a surge in demand for medical oxygen. "Some hospitals have started sourcing oxygen from private firms directly."
