Ethiopia, June 25 -- The world is facing a shortage of oxygen concentrators as the number of worldwide cases of coronavirus infection nears the 10 million mark.

The World Health Organisation's Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said global cases are rising by about one million cases per week, increasing oxygen demand o 88,000 large cylinders per day, or 620,000 cubic meters of oxygen.

Many countries are now experiencing difficulties obtaining oxygen concentrators," Dr. Tedros said. "Demand is currently outstripping supply."

The sudden rise has created a dearth of oxygen concentrators needed to support breathing of COVID-19 patients suffering from respiratory distress.

The health agency has purchased 14,000 oxygen concentrators from m...