The oxygen available in Sri Lankan Government hospitals is being assessed as Intensive Care Units (ICU) are about to reach full capacity with more coronavirus patients being reported in the country.

The Health Ministry has instructed Government hospitals submit details of the available oxygen supply in the hospitals.

State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle told Colombo Gazette that there is a rapid rise in the number of patients being admitted to the ICU after contracting the coronavirus.

She said that more young people being infected has resulted in more people being admitted to the ICU.

As a result, she said that the ICUs are about to reach full capacity.

Dr. Fernandopulle said that 70 ICU beds are to be added to the existing capacity to face the COVID-19 pandemic.

She also said that more health staff are being assigned to ICUs with those trained in intensive care but assigned to others wards being transferred back to ICUs.