COVID-19 patients die in India while health workers rush to change oxygen tanks

At least eight COVID-19 patients in India reportedly died at a hospital after it took too long to change their oxygen — underscoring the devastating impact the catastrophic surge is having on the country.

The patients on ventilator support were left struggling to breathe as staffers changed out the oxygen tanks Monday at the Ruia government hospital in Tirupati, the New Indian Express reported. The hospital said there was only a five-minute delay before a new reserve of oxygen arrived, but the slight disruption resulted in the deaths of the eight COVID-19 patients.