The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been confirmed as the etiological pathogen of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 is the seventh member of coronavirus family that can infect humans after the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus. Due to its strong infectiousness and the lack of immunity in humans, the epidemic of the COVID-19 is still spreading. On January 30, 2020 (local time), the World Health Organization (WHO) defined the epidemics of SARS-CoV-2-infected pneumonia as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This paper reviews the etiology and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2, and the detection and diagnosis, prevention and control, as well as the treatment of COVID-19.