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Hawaii Struggles With an Oxygen Scarcity

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Hawaii Struggles With an Oxygen Shortage

The authorities in Hawaii are struggling to move tanks of oxygen from the mainland because the state’s hospitals develop more and more strained by new coronavirus infections.

Medical authorities are asking folks to postpone elective surgical procedures and the state’s 223 I.C.U. beds have dwindled to 16 accessible, mentioned Hilton R. Raethel, the president and chief govt of the Healthcare Affiliation of Hawaii.

“Probably the most crucial level for Hawaii that we’ve skilled throughout this complete pandemic is true now,” he mentioned.

Since July 1, Hawaii has been battling its highest surge in Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations, with the seven-day common of reported circumstances reaching 884 on Tuesday, in line with a New York Occasions database. The seven-day hospitalization common peaked at 427 on Monday. Well being specialists say the surge is pushed by the extremely contagious Delta variant and low vaccination charges.

Although Hawaii has seen droves of vacationers coming to the islands — so many who the state’s governor final week requested them to remain away — Mr. Raethel mentioned that round 95 p.c of hospitalized sufferers are unvaccinated residents, not vacationers.

These hospitalized sufferers are additionally largely the explanation for an enormous surge in requests for medical oxygen. The demand is up 250 p.c since August started, the affiliation mentioned in an announcement. The state authorities turned to the mainland for assist, however encountered challenges.

A global scarcity has restricted the variety of liquid oxygen tanks that the state can order, Mr. Raethel mentioned. It additionally takes as much as a month to ship the tanks in boats throughout the Pacific. (Liquid oxygen is extremely flammable and harmful to move by airplane.)

“If New York runs out of oxygen, you ship it in from New Jersey or put it on a truck,” he mentioned. “Even Alaska can drive it throughout the border from Canada or Washington.”

The state presently has 10 tanks, Mr. Raethel mentioned, and every carries as much as 3,500 gallons of liquid oxygen.

The state authorities have requested help from the Federal Emergency Administration Company, U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies and different companies because it tries to extend its oxygen provide, the affiliation mentioned.

Mr. Raethel mentioned he believes the state will climate the disaster with out operating out of oxygen. Along with canceling elective surgical procedures, FEMA has accepted the acquisition of three oxygen mills, the authorities have requested transport corporations to hurry up deliveries and the state has recognized a couple of tanks that may carry liquid oxygen as a substitute of different gases.

“Residing in Hawaii is great when issues are going nicely,” he mentioned. “However it’s actually difficult when you may have logistical issues.”