This review summarizes the clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as of late February 2020. The outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019, with a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) identified in January 2020. The virus caused a global health emergency, with over 80,000 confirmed cases and 2,700 deaths worldwide by February 24, 2020. The main clinical features of COVID-19 include fever (90% or more), cough (around 75%), and dyspnea (up to 50%). A small but significant subset of patients also presented with gastrointestinal symptoms. The case fatality rate is estimated at around 2%, primarily due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute kidney injury (AKI), and myocardial injury. The virus is related to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, but is more transmissible. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and possibly through fomites and fecal-oral routes. Transmission in healthcare settings is a serious threat, with a significant proportion of cases occurring in hospitals. Asymptomatic individuals may also be sources of transmission. Currently, treatment is mainly supportive and symptomatic, with no specific antiviral drugs confirmed effective. Several trials of vaccines and antivirals are underway. Frontline medical staff are at risk and should use protective measures. Travel history to epidemic areas is important for diagnosis, and timely referral to public health authorities for testing is crucial. The review highlights the need for continued research and updates as the situation evolves.This review summarizes the clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as of late February 2020. The outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019, with a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) identified in January 2020. The virus caused a global health emergency, with over 80,000 confirmed cases and 2,700 deaths worldwide by February 24, 2020. The main clinical features of COVID-19 include fever (90% or more), cough (around 75%), and dyspnea (up to 50%). A small but significant subset of patients also presented with gastrointestinal symptoms. The case fatality rate is estimated at around 2%, primarily due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute kidney injury (AKI), and myocardial injury. The virus is related to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, but is more transmissible. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and possibly through fomites and fecal-oral routes. Transmission in healthcare settings is a serious threat, with a significant proportion of cases occurring in hospitals. Asymptomatic individuals may also be sources of transmission. Currently, treatment is mainly supportive and symptomatic, with no specific antiviral drugs confirmed effective. Several trials of vaccines and antivirals are underway. Frontline medical staff are at risk and should use protective measures. Travel history to epidemic areas is important for diagnosis, and timely referral to public health authorities for testing is crucial. The review highlights the need for continued research and updates as the situation evolves.