Yangon General Hospital (YGH) Emergency Ward chief Dr. Maw Maw Oo said that the number of serious COVID-19 patients was rising in the worst-hit Yangon Region and so did the number of patients who needed oxygen. Previously only 20% of the COVID patients arrived in YGH needed oxygen and now 50% of the COVID cases were serious patients who needed oxygen, he added.
“We have arranged oxygen for a total 250 patients but this number is not yet enough for rising number of patients at our hospital. We need more oxygen. So we have to send some patients to other COVID centres such as Inya, Phaungyi and Ayer.” Dr. Maw Maw Oo said.
With the arrangement made by Yangon Region COVID Committee, Yangon Region received about 5,050 oxygen cylinders with 40-litre canisters and this number is okay at present but there would be an oxygen cylinders shortage if the number of serious COVID patients increased, the doctor said. YGH has expanded their Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and High Dependency Units (HDUs) with 30 and 50 units respectively for serious patients.