A second wave of coronavirus infections in Nigeria has caused nationwide oxygen shortages.

The ability to help people breathe is under threat in Nigeria with hospitals coming close to running out. In Lagos State, the demand has increased seven-fold since early autumn and more than a half of over 130,000 confirmed cases have been reported in the past three months.

According to the Lagos health commissioner, there has been a global scarcity of oxygen. Authorities have been getting the oxygen from their usual suppliers; however, the amount of oxygen needed depends on how many COVID-19 patients need a very high level of oxygen and how many patients are in intensive care. In November, oxygen plants struggled as demand soared and more plants had to start working at full capacity. Lagos has launched a new oxygen plant and the state plans to build two more.

Difficult words: shortage (a situation in which there isn¢¥t enough of something), scarcity (a situation in which something isn¢¥t easy to find or get), soar (to increase rapidly above the usual level).