The role of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has expanded from regulating the renin angiotensin system to regulating intestinal amino acid homeostasis and the gut microbiome. Recently, ACE2 was identified as a primary receptor for SARS coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, being expressed in multiple tissues including the luminal surface of the gut. In this brief perspective, we examine the role of ACE2 as the receptor for SARS-CoV-2 and the impact of COVID-19 infection on the gut microbiome and on the gut epithelium.