Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a viral respiratory illness caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been recently recognized as a systemic disorder inducing a prothrombotic state. The molecular mechanisms underlying the hypercoagulable state seen in patients with COVID-19 is still incompletely understood, although it presumably involves the close link between inflammatory and hemostatic systems. The laboratory coagulation monitoring of severely ill COVID-19 patients is mandatory to identify those patients at increased thrombotic risk and to modulate thromboprophylaxis accordingly. In this review, we summarize the current understanding on the pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical and laboratory features and management of coagulopathy associated with COVID-19.

Coronaviruses are enveloped single‐stranded RNA viruses belonging to the family of Coronaviridae. While initial research focused on their ability to cause enzootic infections, infections which have emerged in the past two decades demonstrate their ability to cross the species barrier and infect humans [1,2]. The ensuing epidemics have included Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002 and the more recent Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012, and have resulted in severe disease burden, mortality and economic disruption [3]. A novel flu‐like coronavirus, emerging towards the end of 2019 and subsequently named SARS‐CoV‐2, has been associated with an epidemic initially focused in Wuhan, China.

In Italy, the 2018 West Nile virus transmission season started early with a high number of cases reported. One-Health surveillance, within the Italian West Nile national preparedness and response plan, detected viral circulation 9 days before symptom-onset of the first confirmed human case; triggering timely implementation of blood and transplant safety measures. This is an example of how functional coordination allows health authorities to use early warning triggers from surveillance systems to implement preventive measures.