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What oxygen saturation levels can tell you about SARS-CoV-2 infection

SARS-CoV-2 causes a respiratory illness where patients often complain of shortness of breath and chest tightness.

Haemoglobin is a protein in the blood that carries oxygen to cells of the body. Oxygen saturation (also called SpO2) is a fraction of the oxygen-saturated haemoglobin, compared to the total haemoglobin in the blood. The normal values of SpO2 range from 92 to 100 percent. A value below 90 percent could indicate low oxygen, a condition known as hypoxemia.