Study aim: Evaluating the effectiveness of laser acupuncture in the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19 Design: A randomized, single-blinded clinical trial with a parallel-group design of 60 patients. Excel software will be used for randomization. Settings and conduct: In this research, 60 hospitalized COVID-19 patients confirmed by PCR test and chest CT-scans will participate. Patients will be randomly assigned to two treatment groups. This study is single-blinded and neither the data collector nor the data analyst will be aware of the patients' group allocations and the treatments Group 1: Patients will receive laser acupuncture treatment in addition to the current standard care for COVID-19. Laser acupuncture method: 5-10 sessions of daily laser acupuncture using GaAlAs laser (810 nm) Group 2: Patients will receive the current standard care for COVID-19. Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria: COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia, hospitalized in the ward before requiring ICU admission Intervention groups: Group 1: Patients will receive the current standard of care for COVID-19 in addition to laser acupuncture. Group 2: Patients will receive the current standard of care for COVID-19. Main outcome variables: Percentage of lung involvement; IL-6 serum levels