The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration has provided a set of oxygen concentrators to the provincial referral hospital for treatment of Covid-19 patients and other emergency uses.

Provincial hall spokesman Kheang Phearum told The Post on July 17 that the concentrators have a generating capacity of 35 cubic metres per hour, equivalent to five standard oxygen cylinders.

He said the concentrators will also serve the needs of other health centres in the coastal province.

“Previously, we had to place orders when we needed oxygen supplies. Now we have our own concentrators that can generate oxygen equivalent to five cylinders per hour, or 50 cylinders in 10 hours,” he said, expressing hopes that the machine will help prevent deaths from the disease.

Amid an ongoing outbreak, Phearum said the provincial authorities are using all necessary means to detect the virus, find those who have had contact with infected persons and collect their specimens for testing to prevent the virus spreading.

“We aim to break the chain of transmission and root out the source of infections in the province,” he said.

Phearum said that besides the concentrators, a Covid-19 laboratory that has recently begun operations in the province also plays a key role as medical personnel no longer have to send specimens to the capital for testing. This, he said, enables the authorities to respond in a timely manner.