Bengaluru: Karnataka government on Friday issued guidelines for the usage of oxygen after an expert committee ruled that there was excessive use of oxygen as a treatment for COVID-19 patients.

In a letter issued yesterday, Jawaid Akhtar, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, said there is an "unprecedented surge in the demand of oxygen" to treat COVID-19 patients.

The clinical expert committee has conducted an analysis of the usage of oxygen, according to the letter, which reveals that there is a non-judicious and excessive use of oxygen therapy without proper monitoring.

"Excessive usage, besides having deleterious health effects, is resulting in the wastage of a preciou