BACKGROUND The effect of corticosteroids in the management of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unclear. CASE REPORT A 67-year-old man who tested positive for COVID-19 by reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) analysis was admitted to our hospital. On admission, he had no dyspnea and his oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) level was normal. Chest imaging revealed ground-glass opacities (GGO) distributed in both lung fields. Four days after admission, bilateral lung shadows worsened, with a slight reduction in SpO(2) levels. Short-term corticosteroid therapy was initiated, and SpO(2) and radiographic findings promptly improved without use of antiviral agents. CONCLUSIONS More data are required to ascertain the role of corticosteroids in the management of COVID-19 pneumonia.