Oxygen supplies are sufficient, so there is no reason for the public to worry.
Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA) - Surabaya Vice Mayor Armuji has made assurance that oxygen supplies are adequate for COVID-19 patients in the capital of East Java Province.

"Oxygen supplies are sufficient, so there is no reason for the public to be worried," Armuji stated here on Friday.

The Surabaya city government has coordinated with gas producers, including PT Samator and PT Aneka Gas, to secure medical oxygen supplies for hospitals.

Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi had earlier highlighted the city government’s endeavor to ensure the availability of medical oxygen for COVID-19 patients treated at hospitals and conducting self-isolation.

The Commission B of the Surabaya City Legislative Council (DPRD) has urged the city administration to form a task force comprising personnel from the health office, trade office, military, and police to ensure the availability of oxygen for COVID-19 patients.

The task force must ensure that oxygen supplies are secure and available at affordable prices to the people in addition to guaranteeing that hospitals and the people have easy access to them, according to Commission B of the DPRD.

Chief of the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) Office in Surabaya Dendy Rakhmad Sutrisno remarked that the price of medical oxygen had increased, and the public had faced difficulties in obtaining it in recent weeks.


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The surge in COVID-19 cases has driven the demand for oxygen to support patient care.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan stated during a virtual press conference monitored from Jakarta on Monday that the distribution was a bit sluggish in the wake of an increase in demand that was three to four folds the amount required.

On Sunday, Panjaitan spoke of having coordinated with the Industry Ministry to record the demand for oxygen cylinders in every city across Indonesia.

The ministry informed that oxygen manufacturing industries were mandated to convert their products to meet medical requirements. Consequently, 1,700 tons of medical oxygen per day will be available.

Some 1,400 out of the 1,700 tons of medical oxygen are used to meet the demand in Java, according to Pandjaitan.


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Translator: Abdul Hakim/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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