Indonesia has ordered oxygen makers to prioritise medical needs amid growing demand from Covid-19 patients, the government has said, following more than 60 deaths in a hospital where supply of the life-saving gas was almost exhausted.

The world's fourth most populous nation is battling one of Asia's worst coronavirus outbreaks, with Saturday's 27,913 infections becoming the newest of many peaks during the last two weeks, according to a Reuters report.

The government was asking the gas industry to increase production of medical oxygen, said health ministry official Siti Nadia Tarmizi.

“We also hope people don't stock up on oxygen,” she added, referring to stockpiles that could have the effect of denying the gas to many.