YOGYAKARTA (AP) Hundreds of coronavirus victims died Sunday after a public hospital in Java, Indonesia, ran out of liquid oxygen due to a surge in COVID-19-related cases.According to Banu Hermawan, at least 33 patients suffering from severe coronavirus infections were killed when the central supply of liquid oxygen was cut off late Saturday night at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital. This was due to delays by suppliers over the weekend.Hermawan stated that the oxygen shortage at the city's largest hospital was caused by an increase in patients in deteriorating health.He said that at least 63 patients with COVID-19 died in hospital treatment. 33 of these deaths occurred during the time when central liquid oxygen ran out. The hospital switched to oxygen cylinders during this outage. Medical oxygen is available in both liquid and compressed form.According to Hermawan, their deteriorating health was the main reason for their deaths.After 15 tons of liquid oxygen had been delivered, the hospital's central oxygen supply was back in operation at 4:45 a.m. on Sunday.He explained that the hospital had asked for assistance from health authorities to address the oxygen shortage. They also requested oxygen supplies from other hospitals since the supply of liquid oxygen was at critical levels late Saturday.Hermawan stated that the hospital has switched to oxygen cylinders. 100 of these were donated by the Yogyakarta Regional Police.The Indonesian health care system is being challenged by an explosion in COVID-19 cases.In Java, Indonesia's most populous island, hospitals started to set up tents made of plastic in June to act as temporary intensive care units. Patients waited days to be admitted. For those who were lucky enough to be able to receive oxygen tanks, they were laid out on the sidewalk. Others were told that they would have to make their own.
