In March 2020, WHO announced a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. To date, there is still lack of knowledge about the pathogen and the clinical course of the disease and the emerging research results require systemic analysis and synthesis. The aim of our review was to analyze publications on clinical and experimental observations, reviews and international experience regarding to the immune response, organ changes, diagnosis and treatment of the new coronavirus infection. This review provides a qualitative synthesis of research papers on SARS-CoV-2 form 2020 and on SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, which were published from 2005-2020. PubMed was the source of literature for international papers while Russian papers were selected using Russian Science Citation Index database. The structural features of SARS-CoV-2 due to the spine-shaped protein allow the virus to bind to the host receptors via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. Changing the parameters of the virus-cell interaction helps to reduce the production of type I interferon, which leads to rapid virus replication, activation of the immune response with the development of the “cytokine storm”. A key role in the excessive production of cytokines is played by IL-6, which, through both classical signal transduction and activation of the soluble IL-6 receptor, exacerbates excessive cytokine production. The development of endothelitis, sepsis and septic shock against this background are key factors in the pathogenesis of the disease, increasing the risk of death in infected patients. X-ray signs of SARS-CoV-2 infection include multifocal, bilateral, peripheral frost-glass changes, and morphological findings confirm damage to the alveoli, hyaline membrane formation and type II pneumocyte hyperplasia. The information for evidence-based treatment of patients with SARC-Cov-2 is still limited. However, an exponential growth of literature on this disease will soon provide opportunities for both qualitative and quantitative synthesis.