The Chairman of the Western Regional Health Authority, (WRHA) is refuting claims of oxygen rationing at the Savanna-La-Mar Hospital adding to the rise COVID-19 deaths, made in a viral voicenote blaming among other things. He says checks were also made regarding names mentioned as health workers that proved to be untrue.

The viral voicenote paints a grim image of the handling of COVID-19 patients, at the hospital. The voicenote claims that oxygen is being selectively distributed and being turned off at night and that health authorities want people to die. 

However, the Chairman of the Western Regional Health Authority, Eric Clarke, insists that the information in the voice note is not true. He questions the veracity of the voicenote adding a name mentioned as a matron by the sender, in the region was nonexistent, which he notes is confirmation and of itself that no such thing is taking place at the hospital.

The situation in the western region shows overworked nurses and a shortage of bed spaces, both of which he says are being addressed. Beds are also being provided to the Savanna-La-Mar Hospital as cases continue to climb.

More in this CVM Live story from Jhanielle Powell: