Medical oxygen required for COVID-19 in Latin America 2021, by country
With the third-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide, Brazil was the country that required the largest volume of oxygen in Latin America. As of August 13, 2021, the Portuguese-speaking nation needed nearly 1.5 million cubic meters of oxygen per day to treat its patients. Meanwhile, Mexico needed close to 742 thousand cubic meters of oxygen per day. Most of the countries in the region required less than 200 thousand cubic meters of oxygen per day.
A critical situation
Medical oxygen is pivotal for treating patients affected by the COVID-19 disease. The virus can cause pneumonia, which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (lung failure) and eventually death. Medical oxygen enables patients to receive the oxygen required for normal bodily function. With more than 206 million cases worldwide, oxygen demand is at an all-time high. As of May 3, 2021, India required the most oxygen at more than 2 million cylinders per day.
It is not just oxygen
The shortfall in the amount of medical oxygen in Brazil is coupled with a general lack of resources. In 2019, the South American country had only 1.05 intensive care unit (ICU) beds per 100,000 population. In addition, Brazil registered just over 25 ventilators per 100,000 inhabitants that same year. Unfortunately, as one of the most affected countries worldwide, this is not enough to meet the soaring demand.
A critical situation
Medical oxygen is pivotal for treating patients affected by the COVID-19 disease. The virus can cause pneumonia, which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (lung failure) and eventually death. Medical oxygen enables patients to receive the oxygen required for normal bodily function. With more than 206 million cases worldwide, oxygen demand is at an all-time high. As of May 3, 2021, India required the most oxygen at more than 2 million cylinders per day.
It is not just oxygen
The shortfall in the amount of medical oxygen in Brazil is coupled with a general lack of resources. In 2019, the South American country had only 1.05 intensive care unit (ICU) beds per 100,000 population. In addition, Brazil registered just over 25 ventilators per 100,000 inhabitants that same year. Unfortunately, as one of the most affected countries worldwide, this is not enough to meet the soaring demand.
