inclusion criteria: - males and females 18-70 years of age at screening - hospitalized patients with confirmed sars-cov-2 by pcr or known contact of confirmed case with syndrome consistent with coronavirus disease (covid-19) with pcr pending (positive pcr result should be available prior to randomisation). - moderate cases (each of the followings met): showing dyspnoea but not manifest respiratory distress, respiratory rate 22-29 / min; oxygen saturation at rest > 93%; with or without the need for oxygen supplementation; pneumonia on medical imaging with pulmonary infiltrates occupying ≤ 50% of the lung-fields - subjects who are able to communicate with the investigator and research staff, who understand the study, are able to comply with all study procedures, and willing to provide written informed consent prior to the screening examinations.

inclusion criteria: - males and females 18-70 years of age at screening - hospitalized patients with confirmed sars-cov-2 by pcr or known contact of confirmed case with syndrome consistent with coronavirus disease (covid-19) with pcr pending (positive pcr result should be available prior to randomisation). - moderate cases (each of the followings met): showing dyspnoea but not manifest respiratory distress, respiratory rate 22-29 / min; oxygen saturation at rest > 93%; with or without the need for oxygen supplementation; pneumonia on medical imaging with pulmonary infiltrates occupying ≤ 50% of the lung-fields - subjects who are able to communicate with the investigator and research staff, who understand the study, are able to comply with all study procedures, and willing to provide written informed consent prior to the screening examinations.