Critical care Covid cases 57% higher than 2020 peak: Asad Umar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Asad Umar has revealed that the number of critical care COVID-19 patients on oxygen in Pakistan is 57% higher than it was in June last year.

Taking to Twitter on Friday, Umar, who is the head of the National Command and Operation Center, shared the current status of oxygen production, supply and availability in Pakistan for coronavirus patients.

The total number of critical care COVID-19 patients on oxygen has reached 5,360, he said, adding that the jump has so far been managed because of proactive building capacity of the “entire system from oxygen production to beds.”

Total number of critical care covid patients on oxygen reached 5360 yesterday. This is 57% more than the peak last june. Alhamdulillah have so far managed to cope with this huge increase because of proactively building capacity of the entire system from oxygen production to beds

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) April 30, 2021

He then went on to give an update on the oxygen production increase in Pakistan and the number of oxygen cylinder imported last year.

“Despite there being more than 2,000 additional COVID-19 patients on oxygen vs last June peak, you have not seen the kind [of] tight supply situation we saw last June,” Umar wrote.

He said the government is continuing to build capacity and the NCOC has decided to import 6,000 tons of oxygen, 5,000 cylinders and 20 cryogenic tanks.

But Umar warned that the challenge is not over. He reiterated the need to take precautions and follow coronavirus standard operating procedures.

“No system can cope if we allow the disease to spread rapidly. May Allah be with us and protect us,” he concluded.

Pakistan reported at least 131 more deaths from coronavirus in the last 24 hours, according to the latest statistics issued by the NCOC.

The NCOC stats reported 5,112 new positive cases after tests of 49,099 people were conducted. The positivity ratio remained 10.41%.

Earlier this week, Pakistan reported the highest single-day death toll recorded since the pandemic started last year with over 200 new fatalities.