The Covid-19 pandemic crisis left several cities in the Brazilian Amazon without hospital oxygen earlier this year. | Photo: EFE

La Paz, April 2 (RHC)-- The health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil is not letting up as it enters its second year; and more than 600 municipalities are at risk of running out of oxygen in hospitals to treat serious COVID-19 patients. 

This situation exacerbates the already critical emergency facing the country, which began the month of April with more than 3,000 deaths in 24 hours due to the disease, according to data from health authorities.

A report released by the National Confederation of Municipalities (CNM) said that a survey of mayors in at least 625 municipalities in the country, shows there is a risk of lack of oxygen, 24.5.

Some cities, such as São Paulo, announced in recent days the installation of oxygen cylinder factories to supply hospitals; however, this type of initiative is not affordable for smaller municipalities with scarce resources.

In addition to the shortage of oxygen, in another 1,141 municipalities there is a risk of lack of the medicines that make up the so-called "intubation kit," which is used to sedate seriously ill patients who need artificial respiration; however, on a positive note, almost all municipalities (98 percent) received anti-viral vaccines in the last few days.