To interpret the differences and changes between the “TCM Diagnosis and Treatment Program for COVID-19 in Shanghai (Trial)” and the “Diagnosis and Treatment Program for COVID-19 (Trail, Fifth Edition)” issued by the National Health Commission. ①In the Shanghai program, the recovery period was listed separately, TCM intervention after the improvement of clinical symptoms of COVID-19 was emphasized, i.e., prevention in the period from initial recovery to complete recovery. ②According to the Shanghai program, TCM patterns in the clinical treatment period were adjusted, which were expressed as damp toxin stagnating the lung pattern, heat toxin blocking the lung pattern, and internal blocking causing collapse pattern; Based on the clinical characteristics of patients in Shanghai, the pathological factors of “heat” and “toxin” were highlighted. ③In the clinical treatment period, the prescription for damp toxin stagnating the lung pattern was modified based on pattern identification in the Shanghai program, i.e., “for patients with nausea and vomiting, add 3 g of Huanglian (coptis rhizoma) and 6 g of Suye (perillae folium)”, taking the effect of Suye Huanglian decoction. ④In the clinical treatment period, 9 g Jianghuang (curcuma longa) and 9 g Jiangcan (bombyx batryticatus) were added to the prescription for the heat toxin blocking the lung pattern to achieve the effect of Shengjiang powder. ⑤For the treatment of heat toxin blocking the lung pattern, Tanreqing injection was added to the Chinese patent medicine recommendation list as it met the core pathogenesis of “damp, heat and toxin” of COVID-19. ⑥In the recovery period, the pattern of dual deficiency of qi and yin was added due to the characteristics of tiredness, lack of tongue fluid, and virus carrying in respiratory tract and feces in patients after abatement of fever, and Shashen Maidong decoction was used as the main formula, supplemented by Zhuye Shigao decoction, Xiebai powder, Shengjiang powder and other prescriptions.