evidence: The spread of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has placed health care systems around the world under enormous pressure. Up to 10–15% of hospitalized cases with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are in critical condition (i.e., severe pneumonia and hypoxemic acute respiratory failure, HARF), have received invasive mechanical ventilation, and are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU)1,2. The shortage of critical care resources, both in terms of equipment and trained personnel, required a reorganization of the hospital facilities even in developed countries. In addition, some COVID-19 patients cannot be considered for invasive ventilation due to their frailty or comorbidities, and others are unwilling to undergo invasive techniques. As a result, a considerable proportion of severe patients are being treated in hospital settings outside the ICU.