Indonesia's pandemic response leader has said that parts of the country lack oxygen supplies as the number of critically ill Covid-19 patients who need it increases and dozens of sick people died at a public hospital that ran out of its central supply, AP reports.

“Due to an increase of three to four times the amount (of oxygen) needed, the distribution has been hampered,” said Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the coordinating maritime affairs and investment minister.

The government is asking oxygen producers to dedicate their full supply to medical needs and will import it if needed, Pandjaitan said at a virtual news conference.