Based on the analysis of proven cases, we discussed the ideas and methods of clearing heat and eliminating dampness in treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) regarding the “eliminating pathogenic factors as the first and foremost principle”. It is believed that COVID-19 is a pandemic with the characteristics of “damp-heat”, which should be treated by the method of clearing heat and eliminating dampness, with “eliminating pathogenic factors as the first and foremost principle” and supplemented by the method of strengthening vital qi. Under the guidance of the theory of eliminating pathogenic factors and strengthening vital qi in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), we can help alleviate fever and smooth bowel movement to stop the disease progress, avoid the transformation of critical and severe cases and reduce the risk of death by eliminating pathogenic factors first and treating both the lung and intestine. Therapeutic methods adopted include dispersing lung to calm panting, dredging fu organs to purge heat, and resolving dampness with aromatics, etc. We follow the principles of eliminating pathogenic factors and strengthening vital qi as well as regulating the lung, liver and spleen to improve liver function and reduce the risk of disease aggravation by using the methods of clearing heat and resolving dampness, soothing liver and invigorating spleen, cooling blood and removing blood stasis, etc. We are also dedicated to the improvement of patients’ mental and physical health by strengthening vital qi. The method of invigorating qi and spleen we adopted can fasten the negative conversion in virus nucleic acid test, shorten the course of disease and facilitate recovery.