LIMA, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A first shipment of medical oxygen sent by
Chile has arrived in Peru, which will help relieve a shortage for Covid-19
patients, President Francisco Sagasti said.
Almost 200 people a day have died from Covid-19 in Peru in February, four
times more than in December, and the shortage of oxygen has hampered
treatment for thousands of patients.
“The first 40 tonnes of oxygen imported from Chile are already in our
territory,” the president wrote on Twitter.
“We appreciate the willingness of our sister country to the south to
support us,” he said, adding it would be a weekly shipment during the
emergency.
The shortage had forced people to line up for up to four days for an
oxygen refill.
Peru currently has nearly 100,000 people with Covid-19, according to
official figures, of whom 15,000 are hospitalized, overwhelming the health
services.
With 33 million people, Peru has about 1.3 million confirmed coronavirus
cases and more than 45,000 deaths, according to official data. — NNN-AGENCIES