Workers fill up oxygen cylinders at a medical oxygen plant in Tajura, Libya, on Aug. 8, 2021. The Libyan Ministry of Health has provided oxygen supplies to some hospitals in the capital Tripoli. Major hospitals in the city recently suffered from a severe lack of oxygen, as the country continues to record new COVID-19 cases.(Photo: Xinhua)

Oxygen cylinders are seen at a medical oxygen plant in Tajura, Libya, on Aug. 8, 2021. The Libyan Ministry of Health has provided oxygen supplies to some hospitals in the capital Tripoli. Major hospitals in the city recently suffered from a severe lack of oxygen, as the country continues to record new COVID-19 cases.(Photo: Xinhua)

A worker moves an oxygen cylinder at a medical oxygen plant in Tajura, Libya, on Aug. 8, 2021. The Libyan Ministry of Health has provided oxygen supplies to some hospitals in the capital Tripoli. Major hospitals in the city recently suffered from a severe lack of oxygen, as the country continues to record new COVID-19 cases.(Photo: Xinhua)

The Libyan Ministry of Health has provided oxygen supplies to some hospitals in the capital Tripoli. Major hospitals in the city recently suffered from a severe lack of oxygen, as the country continues to record new COVID-19 cases.

Directors of the hospitals appealed to the Ministry of Health, which spared no efforts to provide the much needed oxygen. Oxygen supplies were provided from Egypt, as well as local private plants.

Despite the severe lack of medical oxygen, no major hospitals or medical centers were closed and they continued to receive patients and treat them with available treatment, the ministry said.

The ministry denied reports that the lack of oxygen supplies killed patients in any hospital or medical center, confirming that the storage of oxygen was increased significantly to meet the demand.

According to the National Center for Disease Control, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Libya so far is more than 260,000, including nearly 200,000 recoveries and 3,719 deaths.

Original reference: Libyan health ministry provides hospitals with oxygen as COVID-19 cases increase - Global Times (globaltimes.cn)