Gal-3 levels in patients with typical pneumonia were significantly higher than in patients with atypical (p<0.01), indeterminate appearance (p<0.01), and patients without pneumonia (p<0.01). Higher Gal-3 levels were significantly associated with higher severity of lung involvement. Prediction of typical pneumonia in COVID-19 patients resulted in an AUC of 0.89 (95% Cl 0.83-94 p:<0.01). A cut-off of 18.9 ng/mL resulted in 87% sensitivity and 73% specificity. Here, LGALS3 is linked to COVID-19.