Bangladesh may soon face an oxygen crisis, the country’s health authorities have warned, if the Covid-19 cases continue to rise at the current pace. Presently, there is no gap between supply and demand.  

The number of patients reported during the 26th week ( from 21 June to 27 June) of 2021, has increased by 51% as compared to the data of the previous week; Fatalities have risen by 46% in the same period, Namul Islam, the spokesperson of Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said on Sunday. 
 
He further added there is no crisis in the production and supply of oxygen now, reported The Dhaka Tribune.
 
When asked about the reported deaths due to the shortage of oxygen, he said, "There is no crisis in oxygen production and supply now. However, it would be difficult to meet the demand if the number of coronavirus patients keeps rising.” 

Bangladesh is capable of testing 50,000 samples in a day, he added.

Over the last few days, the positivity rate clocked 25 percent in the country, crossing 8000 daily cases last week. Authorities have recently imposed a strict seven-day lockdown in the country. Delta variant, which was first detected in India, is also behind the Covid-19 surge in Bangladesh. 

(SAM)