Objective To understand the anxiety and depression status of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), explore appropriate nursing intervention mode of COVID-19 patients. Methods COVID-19 patients who were admitted in The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital between January 23 and February 10, 2020 were chosen for studied objects. Anxiety and depression score in patients were assessed by self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS), nursing intervention measures were formulated and therapeutic efficacy was evaluated. Results A total of 40 patients were admitted, 10 of whom (25.00%) had anxiety, the average score of SAS was (42.94±8.33). 14 cases (35.00%) had depression, the average score of SDS was (46.41±13.37). The scores in anxiety and depression of patients were higher than the norm, difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Score in anxiety of female patients was significantly higher than that of male patients (P=0.02). Scores in anxiety and depression of patients of different age and educational level were not significantly different (both P>0.05). After taking nursing intervention, the average score of SAS and SDS were (37.94±5.67) and (39.93±8.55) respectively, which decreased significantly compared with the score before taking nursing intervention (both P<0.05). Conclusion Anxiety and depression of COVID-19 patients are more serious than general population, effective nursing intervention can significantly reduce anxiety and depression, long term nursing intervention needs to be continued.