A brutal letter by virus-ravaged Los Angeles county health authorities detecting paramedics to not transport dying patients or waste oxygen reveals the extent of the Covid crisis gripping the US. Issued on January 4 the letter is marked "Effective immediately due to the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on EMS and 911 receiving hospitals". "Given the acute need to conserve oxygen, effective immediately, EMS should only administer supplemental oxygen to patients with oxygen saturation below 90 per cent," it reads. Photo / APCalifornia became the first US state where Covid-19 cases surged past two million last month, and numbers are now just under 2.5m, with more than 27,000 deaths. The state is sourcing more oxygen containers and has dispatched army engineers to hospitals to facilitate the supply to patients.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 05, 2021 07:30 UTC