Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019, the incidence and mortality of cardiac arrest have increased significantly worldwide, and the management of cardiac arrest is facing new challenges. The European Resuscitation Council issued the 2021 European Resuscitation Council Guidelines in March 2021 to update the important parts of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and added recommendations for the management of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic. This article will compare the difference between this guideline and the 2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care and integrate some key points, review literature and then summarize the latest research progress in cardiopulmonary resuscitation since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic. The content mainly involves cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic, early prevention, early recognition, application of new technologies, airway management, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation and post-resuscitation treatment.