"We ordered 10 thousand (units) and some of them have arrived on a Hercules jet from Singapore, and we will also have shipments from other places should we experience a shortage," he said at an online press conference, which was streamed from Jakarta via the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel on Tuesday.
Pandjaitan, who is also coordinator for the implementation of emergency mobility restrictions (PPKM) in Java and Bali, explained that oxygen concentrators will be distributed to COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms.
Related news: Govt has calculated worst-case scenario regarding COVID-19: Pandjaitan
Oxygen concentrators can extract oxygen from the air and process it so that it can be inhaled by patients.
The government is continuing to mobilize oxygen supply for medical needs, the minister said.
At the moment, 100 percent of oxygen supplies for industries are being diverted for COVID-19 handling, he added.
"This is to help those in isolation and those who are being intensively treated," he remarked.
The government has redirected oxygen supplies from Morowali in Central Sulawesi, Cilegon in Banten, and Batam in Riau Islands, Pandjaitan informed.
The minister had previously coordinated with the Ministry of Industry to map out oxygen needs of all regions.
The Industry Ministry has said that oxygen producers are now "100-percent obligated" to redirect oxygen they produce for medical purposes. With such a policy in place, of the 1,700 tonnes of oxygen produced every day in the country, 1,400 tonnes is being distributed on the island of Java, it added.
Smaller oxygen industries have also been directed to produce pharmaceutical oxygen, the ministry said.
Related news: Minister necessitates 50% mobility decline to flatten COVID-19 curve
Translator: Indra Arief Pribadi/Aria Cind
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
