Asia Editor's Picks Muslim World Top Stories Trending Now

Indonesia faces oxygen crisis amid surge in Covid-19 cases

JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesia’s government has ordered oxygen producers to prioritise medical needs as a surge in Covid cases has led to shortages in several cities.

Hospitals say they are struggling at the limit of their capacity, with one reporting that 63 patients died as it grappled with depleting oxygen.

The country is currently recording more than 25,000 new cases every day.

The crisis is attributed to increased travel and the more contagious delta variant spreading through the country.

Indonesia has had the worst Covid outbreak in South East Asia, with about 2.3 million positive cases and more than 60,000 deaths so far.

However, experts warn that the overall numbers are potentially much higher because of severely inadequate testing outside the capital Jakarta.

A lockdown was announced in the country’s main island Java, as well as in the tourist island of Bali last week.

On Monday, two hospitals in the city of Bandung announced that they had run out of oxygen and had to reject new patients seeking emergency treatment.

Over the weekend, emergency services and intensive care units of public hospitals in the cities of Bandung, Surakarta, and Pamekasan said they were struggling with an influx of people seeking admission with some having to turn away patients.

“It’s a war-like emergency,” a woman seeking treatment for her elderly mother told news agencies. Her mother had first been rejected at a hospital that had run out of beds and was only able to get admitted to a makeshift tent at another.

Health ministry official Siti Nadia Tarmizi said they had asked the gas industry to step up production of medical oxygen, and appealed to people not to hoard.

“We hope people don’t stock up on oxygen,” she said, adding that this would only worsen the shortage for others.

Her comments come as people have been trying to privately secure oxygen cylinders to treat patients at home. New cylinders and refills are hard to come by, and prices have doubled because of high demand.

In Jakarta, the daily number of funerals following Covid protocols jumped 10-fold since early May, the government said on Sunday.

There is also a high number of infections and deaths among the country’s medical frontline workers, despite most of them being vaccinated.

The country is mostly relying on the Chinese Sinovac jabs and experts are now discussing giving a third dose to boost efficacy against the new Delta variant.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said last week that the country was “teetering on the edge of a Covid-19 catastrophe”.

Meanwhile, starting Tuesday, Indonesia will change entry rules for foreign visitors, allowing only fully vaccinated people with a negative Covid test, the authorities said. Incoming visitors will still have to spend eight days in quarantine upon arrival.

Dear TNT Reader,

At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.

Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.

But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.

Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.

Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription

Visa Card MasterCard American Express Card

We want to hear your Travel Stories.

Do you have a memorable, unbelievable, or favorite travel experience? Share your story with us.