COVID-19 patients demand for oxygen rises from 70 to 350 daily – Sanwo-Olu

Demand for oxygen at the Infectious Disease Hospital in the Yaba area of Lagos State has risen by 400 per cent, from 70 to 350 cylinders per day.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, gave the figure at a press briefing on Tuesday, adding the upsurge in COVID-19 cases necessitated an increase in the amount of oxygen in all the isolation centres.

He said the alarming trend of COVID-19 had necessitated the reopening of some of the previously closed isolation centres, such as the INDO and Gbagada centres to contain the rising cases and flatten the curve swiftly.

“Over the last few weeks, the demand for oxygen has risen from 70 six-litre cylinders per day to 350 six-litre cylinders in our Yaba Mainland Hospital. This is projected to more than double to 750 six-cylinders, before the end of January 2021,” he said.

“ln addition to providing oxygen at our isolation centres, the Lagos State Government has decentralised the availability of oxygen across the State through the provision of 10 oxygen and sampling kiosks. Oxygen therapy and other related services will be provided to patients that require them.

“Five of these 10 oxygen centres have been commissioned while the remaining five will be ready for use within the next four weeks. It is our expectation that these sampling kiosks would be easily accessible to residents that require oxygen therapy at the level of LGAs as stabilization points prior to onward transmission to our Isolation centres, if required.

“This strategy is to further increase the fighting chance of Lagos residents that have contracted the virus and require immediate oxygen therapy.”

The governor also said any malaria-like symptoms should henceforth be considered as COVID-19 virus infection “unless and until proven otherwise”.

He advised anyone with such symptoms to proceed to any of the state’s public health facilities or laboratories to get tested for free, saying, “Seeking help early and quickly significantly improves the chances of survival for severe to critical cases”.

Sanwo-Olu said the state had commenced discussions with some vaccine manufacturers to ensure that residents are catered for.

“We are closely monitoring ongoing action by the Federal Government to procure COVID-19 vaccines for use in Nigeria. We have also opened discussions with vaccine manufacturers so that when the vaccine comes eventually we can ensure that Lagosians are catered for,” he said.

The governor also said, “In the meantime, we are developing a strategy that will articulate the criteria, guidelines and regulatory framework for providing and monitoring vaccinations in Lagos.

“The Lagos State Government is actively partnering with the private sector in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the areas of testing, oxygen deployment, as well as the clinical management of moderate to severe cases. These partnerships have helped enhance the State’s response to the ever-changing circumstances of the pandemic.”