Five years after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Brazil continues to grapple with significant mortality rates from the disease.
From January to March 1, 2025, Covid-19 claimed 761 lives in the country, according to data from the Ministry of Health analyzed by the SP Covid Info Tracker platform. This figure is equivalent to the loss of six Boeing 737-700 aircraft, each with 126 seats.
National Trends
The current death rate stands at 13 deaths per day and 89 per week. This represents a 57.46% decrease compared to the same period last year, when 1,789 deaths were recorded—about 30 per day and 209 per week. Despite this reduction, the numbers remain alarmingly high.
State-Specific Data
In São Paulo, the trend mirrors the national scenario. From January 1 to March 1, 2025, 262 deaths were recorded, equivalent to the loss of two Boeing 737-700 aircraft. This translates to approximately four daily deaths and 31 per week, a 43.04% decrease from the 460 deaths recorded in the same period in 2024.
By examining the last nine epidemiological weeks of 2024 and the first nine of 2025, a 21% increase in deaths is observed nationwide. This percentage rises to 58% when focusing solely on São Paulo.
Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 until March 1, 2025, Brazil has recorded 715,295 Covid-19 deaths. The first victim was Rosana Urbano, a 57-year-old diarist who succumbed to the disease on March 12, 2020. She had underlying conditions, including diabetes and hypertension.
Wallace Casaca , coordinator of the SP Covid-19 Platform, emphasizes that the disease remains dangerous. "The numbers are high, and the expectation is for them to increase," he warns. Casaca highlights that while comparisons with the early pandemic are difficult due to the lack of preventive measures at the time, the current death rates are still significant.
Renato Grinbaum , a consultant at the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI), points out that vulnerable groups, including those over 60, chronic patients, and immunosuppressed individuals, are at greater risk. He notes that previous vaccinations and exposures have created immunity, making subsequent infections milder for those who are vaccinated.
André Bon , an infectologist at Nove de Julho Hospital, stresses the importance of staying up-to-date with vaccinations. He explains that those vaccinated with bivalent vaccines have half the risk of dying from Covid-19 compared to those who received only monovalent vaccines. Bon also highlights that age is the primary risk factor for severe outcomes, with the risk increasing significantly with each decade above 50.
Pro Tips for Prevention
Q: How does the current death rate compare to the early pandemic?
A: The current death rate is significantly lower than during the early pandemic but remains high, with 13 deaths per day nationwide.
Q: Who is most at risk?
A: Vulnerable groups, including those over 60, chronic patients, and immunosuppressed individuals, are at greater risk.
Q: What can individuals do to protect themselves?
A: Staying up-to-date with vaccinations, maintaining good hygiene, and following health guidelines are crucial steps.
The risk of death from Covid-19 for a patient over 85 years old is 340 times greater than for those aged 18 to 29.
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