Objective  To summarize the clinical characteristics of novel coronavirus pneumonia and its nursing care.

  Methods  Clinical characteristics, treatment and nursing to 61 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the fifth medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 20, 2020 to February 29, 2020 were analyzed.

  Results  Of the 61 cases, 36 were male and 25 were female, aged 47±19 (3 to 85) years old. Ten cases were from Wuhan, 12 cases had travel history to Wuhan, and the other 39 cases were close contacts of the above cases. The main clinical symptoms were fever (42, 68.9%), cough and expectoration (33, 54.1%), fatigue (18, 29.5%), chest distress or suffocation (13, 21.3%), dizziness (5, 8.2%), headache (4, 6.6%), diarrhea (12, 19.7%), nausea and vomiting (3, 4.9%), sore throat or throat discomfort (9, 14.8%), muscle pain (9, 14.8%), etc. According to the disease severity, 42 (68.9%) cases were classified as mild, 16 (26.2%) cases were severe, and 3 (4.9%) cases were critically ill. After symptomatic support, oxygen therapy, antiviral treatment and nursing, strict disinfection, and isolation, 43 cases were cured and discharged, 16 cases were still hospitalized, 2 cases died.

  Conclusion  Strengthening the observation of the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 and identifying the critical patients in time is helpful to improve the symptoms and prognosis of the patients.