We present a queue model to inform oxygen cylinder management under different COVID-19 pandemic scenarios. Our model was used to support ventilator capacity planning during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia Canada. Severe bilateral pneumonia is the main feature of severe COVID-19 and adequate ventilator support is crucial for patient survival. Key messages include that supplemental oxygen is a first essential step for the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients with hypoxemia and should be a primary focus in resource-limited settings where capacity for invasive oxygen cylinder is limited. Oxygen delivery can be increased by using a non-rebreathing mask and prone positioning. This model incorporates COVID-19 case projection along with the proportion of cases requiring oxygen cylinder, the delay from symptoms onset to oxygen cylinder, non-COVID-19 oxygen cylinder demand. Patients with fatigue and at risk for exhaustion, because of respiratory distress, will require invasive oxygen cylinder. Our model provides policy makers with a tool to measure the interaction between public health interventions, critical care resources needed and performance cues for patient access.

Keywords : COVID-19; Medical Oxygen; Hoarding; Fatigue; Infectious; Respiratory Syndrome; Oxygen Cylinder; Queuing Theory