The omicron variant continues to ravage the country, and some hospitals once again are experiencing overcrowding and increased stress.
As a result, some people who contracted COVID-19 may be hesitant to receive medical attention and advice because they know what type of strain the healthcare system is under.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean for Regional Campuses at UCSF, said most people with the virus should have a straight forward recovery at home, and can safely avoid receiving hospital treatment.
However, he emphasized "the main symptom" people should be worried about is shortness of breath.
"Maybe you were able to go up that flight of stairs and you just can't do it anymore," he told KCBS Radio news anchors Holly Quan and Eric Thomas during KCBS Radio’s "Ask An Expert" on Tuesday.
He said other associated symptoms are chest pain or tightness, discoloration of skin, confusion or disorientation, or difficulty staying awake. However, the most important sign above all else is difficulty breathing, a clear indication that you should go to the emergency room immediately.
"If people have a pulse oximeter at home, the magic number is 93," he explained. "If you're below 93, that's a signal you should be going in."
Dr. Chin-Hong stressed that the hospital remains a "very safe environment" to visit for all medical needs, even with the prevalence of omicron, due to both vaccines and internal safety measures.
"They're very controlled settings - not like going to an amusement park or a mosh pit at Coachella,” he said "If you are not nervous taking a walk, then you shouldn’t be nervous going to the healthcare system."
"There's been very little intra hospital transmissions when we've instituted these safety protocols," he added.
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