NCT04244591.

Methods	Trial design: randomised, open‐label Sample size: 80 Setting: inpatient Language: English Number of centres: multicentre Type of intervention (treatment/prevention): treatment
Participants	Inclusion criteria: Adult PCR confirmed COVID‐19 infection Symptoms developed > 7 days PaO2/FiO2 < 200 mmHg Positive pressure ventilation (non‐invasive or invasive) or HFNC > 45 L/min for < 48 h Requiring ICU admission Exclusion criteria Pregnancy Patients currently taking corticosteroids (cumulative 400 mg prednisone or equivalent) Severe underlying disease, i.e. end stage of malignancy disease or end stage of pulmonary disease Severe adverse events before ICU admission, i.e. cardiac arrest Underlying disease requiring corticosteroids Contraindication for corticosteroids Recruited in other clinical intervention trial
Interventions	Details of intervention Dose: methylprednisolone 40 mg every 12 h for 5 days Route of administration: no information Treatment details of control group (e.g. dose, route of administration): standard care Concomitant therapy: no information
Outcomes	Primary study outcome Lower Murray lung injury score (time frame: 7 days after randomisation) Lower Murray lung injury score (time frame: 14 days after randomisation)
Notes	Recruitment status: completed Prospective completion date: 13 April 2020 Date last update was posted: 13 April 2020 Sponsor/funding: Peking Union Medical College Hospital