Team distributing free oxygen to Covid-19 patients in Hanoi

A team providing free oxygen to Covid-19 patients has been set up in Hanoi's Hoang Mai District amid a rising number of infections.

Launched by authorities in Linh Nam Ward, the team gathers 12 volunteers who are mostly local university students.

The team is divided into three groups to work round the clock. Their work includes distributing and collecting oxygen cylinders from local health agencies and patient homes.

Nguyen Quoc Trieu, a student of the Hanoi University of Science & Technology said that he had joined the team for two weeks and his shift was from 7 am to 2 pm.

"My work is to contact patients and bring oxygen to those in need," Trieu said. "We’ll carefully instruct them how to use the oxygen cylinders properly."

According to the Linh Nam Ward People's Committee, there are over 180 Covid-19 patients being treated at home in the area and the number may increase in the coming days.

"We are reporting more infections in the community while local hospitals have become overloaded," the committee said. "The oxygen team is playing an important role in treating patients at home."

Earlier Hanoi has set up free Oxygen ATMs at healthcare centres in 30 districts to supply free oxygen to Covid-19 patients who are treating at their homes.

Hanoi has recently become the country's largest epicentre with thousands of new infections confirmed daily. The city reported 2,100 new infections on Monday which is the highest figure recorded so far.