Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global pandemic and led to a serious impact on public health and economic development. This paper summarizes the source of the first isolated and identified SARS-CoV-2 samples and the problems present in the etiology detection of virus RNA. The necessity and limitation of bronchoscopy use in the diagnosis of COVID-19 were discussed and the occupation protection measures for bronchoscopy in COVID-19 were emphasized. It is important to accelerate the development of new disposable protective devices for the bronchoscopic examination.