Sri Lanka will import 100 metric tonnes of medical grade oxygen from India next week to meet the shortage of supply in hospitals, the Health-Minister said on Saturday as WHO experts warned that the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the country would go up by mid-October.

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told reporters that the government will order medical grade oxygen from India to meet the current needs with the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases. She said 100 metric tonnes of oxygen would be imported from India next week and more orders would be placed depending on the need.

A group of Sri Lankan health experts, who comprise the WHO independent expert group, has said that patients dependent on oxygen significantly increased from 528 last week to 646 by August 12.

“If this trend continues, there could be a serious shortage of oxygen supply and interruption of care,” she added.

Health experts have warned that the number of COVID-19 cases could increase up to 6,000 per day up to mid-September and deaths would peak to 220 per day by mid-October.