Objective  To examine basic knowledge, coping style and exercise behavior among the public during the novel coronavirus epidemic outbreak and to provide references for developing targeted strategies and measures on prevention and control of novel coronavirus pneumonia.

  Methods  We conducted an online survey during 30 – 31, January 2020 via Wechat App using a self-designed questionnaire.

  Results  Valid information were collected from 1 893 responders (47.07% males and 52.93% females aged 18 – 80 years, with a mean age of 31.05 ± 9.86) in 20 provincial level regions across China. Of the responders, 92.90% and 34.81% were scaled pass and good and above scores for the knowledge about the novel coronavirus epidemic; 38.44% were scaled poor scores and only 5.40% were scaled good and above scores for appropriate behavior coping with the epidemic. Among the responders, 52.14% reported having active physical exercise in various places during previous one week. For all the responders, appropriate coping behavior correlated positively with physical exercise (P < 0.05); the daily consumed time for getting the epidemic-related information correlated positively with the score for cognitions on the epidemic's prevention measures (r = 0.111, P < 0.01) and on general knowledge about the epideic (r = 0.087, P < 0.01).

  Conclusion  Targeted and multiple measures for guidances on the control of novel coronavirus epidemic should be promoted to improve the cognition on basic knowledge about and behaviors coping with the epidemic among the public in China.