Abstract: Objective To understand the status of knowledge, attitude and practice of COVID-19 among adult residents in Panyu District, Guangzhou, and verify the effect of health education. Methods Adult residents in Panyu District, Guangzhou City were invited to participate in a questionnaire online survey from February 23 to March 13, 2020. According to the project weight or grade, SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 35 797 adult residents were investigated. The high cognition rate for respondents was 83.9%.The top three awareness rates were transmission route（99.3%）, washing hands after going home（99.2%）, and symptoms after infection（98.9%）. The holding rate of positive attitude to COVID-19 was 87.0%. Of the respondents, 99.9% agreed to wash their hands frequently and 99.9% believed that the country can overcome the epidemic. The good behavior rate was 86.6%. The top two health behavior formation rates were reducing going out （98.3%） and washing hands frequently （98.0%）. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the respondents, who were female, had high education level, professional medical staff, Guangzhou household registration, living permanently in city, high cognitive level, and positive attitude, had higher health behavior implementation level. Conclusion Health education of COVID-19 was effective. Residents had high awareness of COVID-19 and took active protective measures. Key health education should be carried out for the vulnerable groups who were male, with low education level, lower knowledge, attitude and practice level of COVID-19, negative attitude, and poor implementation of health behavior.

Key words: COVID-19, Pneumonia, Knowledge, attitude, practice