The number of patients infected with the new coronavirus and recuperating at home has reached a record high of more than 1.43 million as of the 3rd of this month. An increasing number of patients are recuperating at home while using an "oxygen concentrator".
Ririko Yamaji (63), who lives in Tokyo, has been infected with the new coronavirus in all four family members living together since the end of last month.
Of these, her 91-year-old mother-in-law had symptoms such as fever on the 30th of last month, but it took time to get tested because it was the weekend, and she took a PCR test the next week and was diagnosed on the 2nd of this month. confirmed positive.
During this time, he had a fever of 37 to 38 degrees Celsius for about 3 days, and he had difficulty breathing and was unable to eat or drink as expected.
When her doctor visited her home on the 3rd of this month, her mother's blood oxygen level was down to about 83% and she needed to be hospitalized, but her bed was tight. Because of this, I decided to recuperate at her home with an oxygen concentrator.
However, when her doctor confirmed with the supplier, she was told that it would be difficult to arrange it immediately due to the high demand, so she contacted several suppliers and that evening The device has arrived.
Her mother spent the next day at her home using her oxygen concentrator before she was admitted to a hospital in Tokyo.
Ririko Yamaji said, "I was really grateful when I heard from the doctor that I had finally found oxygen after trying three or four different companies. Without oxygen, it might have been a more serious situation, such as calling an ambulance in the middle of the night."
Sachiyo Sekiya, a doctor at the clinic who examined the elderly, said, "For the elderly, hypoxia itself can be a life-threatening situation. Without an oxygen concentrator, which can be said to be a lifeline, home care will not be possible, and the situation will be dangerous. I'm worried because it's expected to happen," he said.
Shipment requests to manufacturers of "oxygen concentrators" one after another
As the number of patients infected with the new coronavirus and recuperating at home has reached a record high, the demand for "oxygen concentrators" for inhaling oxygen at home is increasing, and requests for shipments to manufacturers are continuing.
The "oxygen concentrator" is a device that allows patients to inhale oxygen that has been concentrated by taking in the surrounding air. used.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has secured 1,000 oxygen concentrators for corona patients who are recuperating at home because they cannot be hospitalized due to the tightness of medical institutions.
Since the middle of last month, requests for rental have been received every day from medical institutions that conduct home visits, and currently about half, 500 units are being rented.
Even medical device manufacturers that have lease contracts for oxygen concentrators with local governments in various places, including Tokyo, have been receiving requests for shipments since the beginning of this month.
At the factory of the oxygen concentrator, in addition to operating all the lines and manufacturing, preparations for re-shipment, such as maintenance of the used and sterilized equipment, were underway.
Since last month, this manufacturer has shipped more than 1,000 oxygen concentrators in stock to public health centers nationwide.
We have received additional orders from local governments, so if demand increases in the future, we will consider increasing production by up to 20% from the current level.
Seiji Kobayashi, executive officer of "Air Water", said, "Currently, we still have inventory and can increase production, but we do not know how long the 7th wave will last.If the number of infected people continues to increase, supply will be in a few weeks. It is possible that the supply chain will become tight. I would like to be prepared to handle increased production so that we can deliver equipment to people who need it.”