Objective To explore the characteristics of early clinical syndromes and time distribution rule of coronavirus disease 2019（COVID-19） in traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）. Methods A retrospective study was conducted to collect the medical records of 608 patients with COVID-19 diagnosed in the outpatient and emergency departments of Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The time from onset to consultation

the distribution of TCM syndromes

and the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） symptoms at different treatment times were observed. Results A total of 608 patients had fever（77.8%）

muscle aches（64.1%）

cough（50.8%）

chest tightness（46.9%）

fatigue（44.1%）

headache（41.6%）

chills（38.7%）

anorexia（36.7%） as the main clinical manifestation. The proportion of patients with fever and respiratory symptoms including cough

chest tightness and suffocation as the main symptoms in December 2019 and January 2020 respectively accounted for 83.2% and 54.3% of the patients; digestive system with the main symptom of nausea

retching

diarrhea

anorexia in December 2019 and January 2020 respectively accounted for 0.9% and 17.3% of patients

while those with both above were 15.9% and 28.4%

respectively. Conclusion The main manifestations of COVID-19 are fever

muscle aches

cough

chest tightness

suffocation

and fatigue. In December 2019

fever and respiratory symptoms were the main symptoms. In January 2020

respiratory symptoms decreased and digestive system symptoms increased.