Our study, although small, apart from indicating the probable futility of CPAP in patients who are not fit for invasive ventilation, also points to a very high mortality in this group of patients who required  high flow oxygen (FiO2 > 0.6). However, in the 23 patients deemed suitable for intubation in our hospital (between 12th March and 8th June), CPAP prevented intubation in 13 (56.6%) patients and overall mortality in this group was 20.8%. It is not very clear as to why the CPAP which appeared beneficial in patients suitable for full escalation of treatment didn’t appear to have any clinical benefit in the study patients who are not fit for invasive ventilation.