At present, coronavirus disease 2019 has become the most serious public health emergency in the world. The disease is still spreading around the world. The disease progresses rapidly and is highly contagious, causing great harm to the public health security of the world. Based on the research evidence published at home and abroad, this article systematically summarizes the biological structure of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and the pathogenesis, transmission routes and susceptible populations, clinical features and treatment methods of coronavirus disease 2019. It aims to help medical workers understand coronavirus disease 2019 in order to better diagnose and treat the disease, and provide references for future research.