Bogota begins use of plastic oxygen helmets for Covid patients

One of busiest public hospitals in Colombian capital Bogota has acquired 12 oxygen helmets that help COVID-19 patients brea more easily.

Dr. Carlos Olivers Coban, who specializes in emergency care at El Tunal Hospital, said Thursday helmets help keep patients out of hospital's intensive care unit.

"Lowering instances of m in ICU, lowers ir getting hospital infections... and that has an impact and influence on mortality of our patients," he said.

helmets are used on patients over of 35. By allowing patients to continue breathing more easily, y reduce need for intubation. This increases ir chance of a speedy recovery from virus, he said.

helmets, which have been used in or countries around world, were purchased on internet for 30 million Colombian pesos ($8,600 US dollars) with help of Manuela Bertrand University.

Bogota has increased its ICU capacity which in March 2020 had 935 beds but w has 2,413 beds for patients.

city currently has 571,951 active cases of COVID-19 and 11,580 deaths resulting from virus.