Objective To observe the application effect of completely covered sputum storage cup in the management of expectoration of patients with coronavirus diseas 2019(COVID-19). Methods 36 patients with COVID-19 were randomly divided into trial group and control group according to convenient sampling method, 18 cases in each group, trial group used completely covered sputum storage cup, control group used conventional sputum storage cup, incidence of sputum exposure and expectoration feeling of patients as well as use impression of nurses between two groups were compared. Results Incidence of sputum exposure in trial group was lower than that in control group (5.56% vs 66.67%), satisfaction rate of expectoration feeling in patients in trial group was higher than that in control group (94.44% vs 61.11%). Satisfaction rate of 22 nurses impression after they used two kinds of cups in trial group and control group were 100.00% and 50.00% respectively. There were significant differences in the incidence of sputum exposure, expectoration feeling of patients and nurses impression after they used two kinds of cups between two groups (all P<0.05). Conclusion Completely covered sputum storage cup can reduce sputum exposure of patients with COVID-19, improve the comfort of patients and impression of nurses, reduce incidence of occupational exposure of health care workers.