Workers carry an empty oxygen tank at a hospital in Manaus, Brazil - AAP
1 of 1
5370537724001
Hospitals in Brazil's northern state of Amazonas have run short of oxygen and made an urgent call for help from the United States, as Britain slapped a ban on new arrivals from Brazil over fears of a new homegrown coronavirus variant.
Researchers say the new variant could be contributing to the sharp rise in cases in Amazonas state, although they are conducting more studies to ascertain if it is more contagious than earlier versions of the coronavirus.
Amazonas, where nearly 6000 people have died from COVID-19, is suffering a devastating second wave that is pushing emergency services to a breaking point.