Table 2.

General acuity criteria for patients with COVID-19

Mild illness

Individuals who have any of various signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, headache, muscle pain) without shortness of breath, dyspnea, or abnormal chest imaging

Moderate illness

Individuals who have evidence of lower respiratory tract disease by clinical assessment or imaging, and a saturation of oxygen (SpO2) ≥ 94% on room air

Severe illness

Individuals who have respiratory frequency > 30 breaths per minute, SpO2 < 94% on room air (or, for patients with chronic hypoxemia, a decrease from baseline of > 3%), ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) < 300 mmHg, or lung infiltrates > 50%

Critical illness

Individuals who have respiratory failure, septic shock, cardiogenic shock and/or multiple organ dysfunction