Objective: Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) broke out in Wuhan, China, which has rapidly spread from China to at least 200 countries abroad. COVID-19 was issued a global outbreak and pandemic by the World Health Organization with more than 3 million confirmed cases by May 31, 2020. So far more than ten thousand severe and critically ill patients and hospital-related infection with COVID-19 have been reported with more than four thousand deaths in China. There is a great challenge for intensive care units (ICUs) in hospitals.
Patients and methods: The comment mainly focused on admission and discharge criteria, therapy protocol, prevention and control strategies for ICU during COVID-19 outbreak. The emergency strategy for ICU will be helpful for prevention and control of COVID-19 and treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19.
Conclusions: Progress in the management of ICU is crucial for a decrease in the mortality of critically ill patients with COVID-19 with the clinical evidence and experience updated.