The source of the novel coronavirus is not yet known and may be due to a viral gene carried by bats, although the exact source remains controversial. The novel coronavirus is a virus that has not previously been found in humans, and can be transmitted through respiratory droplets or close contact, or by contact with objects contaminated with the virus. Current studies have shown that bats carry viral genes with a high degree of similarity to the novel coronavirus, suggesting that the novel coronavirus may have originated from bats, with pangolins as possible intermediate hosts. If a patient is inadvertently infected with the novel coronavirus, he/she may have symptoms such as fever, dry cough, malaise, nasal congestion, runny nose, dry throat, and altered sense of smell. If a patient is suspected to have novel coronavirus infection, he/she should go to a healthcare facility in time to complete nucleic acid testing for a definitive diagnosis. If he/she is diagnosed as a new coronavirus-infected person, he/she should be isolated according to the local policy and reported to the authorities.