The 2019 Coronavirus outbreak was declared a global Public Health Emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 30th January 2020.

In order to ensure immediate access to relevant systematic reviews, this Cochrane Library Special Collection assembles Cochrane Reviews identified as most directly relevant to the management of people hospitalized with severe acute respiratory infections. It includes reviews that are relevant to the WHO interim guidance for the 2019 coronavirus outbreak (28 January 2020) as well as reviews identified as relevant by Cochrane Acute and Emergency Care.

This Special Collection will be updated to ensure it remains applicable as the situation changes, and as WHO guidance evolves, and will also draw on the knowledge of Cochrane groups in affected regions. An additional collection of reviews addressing prevention and infection control measures will be developed separately.

While the reviews in this Special Collection assess interventions that are referenced in the WHO interim guidance, the direct applicability of the evidence may be limited by the low proportion of people with viral infection enrolled in the primary studies.

This Special Collection includes Cochrane Reviews on the following topics: fluid and vasopressor therapy; respiratory support and mechanical ventilation; weaning mechanical ventilation; managing hypoxaemia; pharmacological treatment; and nutrition in intensive care.

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