MedNEXT J Med Health Sci (2021) Page 1 of 4 Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in the southeast region of Brazil Luciana Ventura Tauyr 1 , Caroline Gonçalves Silva Braga 2 , João Pedro Daher Anbar 1 , Isabela Daher Anbar 1 , Gabriela Copelli Wolf 1 , Patrícia Fucuta 1 , Cecília Artico Banho 3 , Carolina Colombelli Pacca Mazaro 1,3,4 * 1 FACERES - Medical School of Sao José do Rio Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil. 2 Faculty of Medicine – Uni-FACEF, Franca – SP, Brazil. 3 Laboratory of Virology at the Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto – FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto – SP, Brazil. 4 Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", São José do Rio Preto – SP, Brazil. *Corresponding author: Dr. Carolina Colombelli Pacca Mazaro, FACERES - Medical School of Sao José do Rio Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Email: carolpacca@gmail.com DOI: https://doi.org/10.54448/mdnt21615 Received: 09-09-2021; Revised: 10-09-2021; Accepted: 11-07-2021; Published: 12-15-2021; MedNEXT-id: e21615 Introduction In December 2019, a new coronavirus was detected in Wuhan, China, named SARS-CoV-2, which soon spread across the world, being classified as a pandemic in January 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO) [1-4]. Usually, the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 attacks the upper and lower respiratory tract [5], and may lead to a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) [1,3,6]. As of August 2021, there were213,813,516 confirmed cases and 4,461,982 deaths around the world. Brazil is one of the most important epicenters of COVID-19 disease, reaching 20,614,866 confirmed cases and 575,742 deaths [7]. The São Paulo state was one of the most affected locations, due to its higher population density, presenting 4,253,516 confirmed cases and 145,522 deaths [8]. Currently, the largest mortality rates caused by SARS-CoV-2 are associated with elderly people, and the presence of comorbidities and deficiencies of the immune system [9]. The COVID-19 virus spreads among humans through contact with oro-nasal secretions [10,11], such as droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose during cough and sneeze [12]. Due to its rapid spread it is indispensable the use of simple control measures to contain the pandemic, as the use of masks, disinfection of hands with soap/alcohol 70%, social distance, and vaccination. SARS-CoV-2 transmission usually occurs up seven days from the first symptoms are detected [13,14], while the estimated incubation period is from five days to two weeks, with the possibility of transmission by asymptomatic individuals [15,16]. The wide diversity of socioeconomic, climatic and geographic characteristics of Brazil is critical to define the profile of the most vulnerable population. So far, no studies have demonstrated the correlation between the epidemiological history and the main symptoms diagnosed individuals. Therefore, here we have choosen the Southeast region of Brazil, which presents the greatest number of COVID-19 cases, and showed the correlation between epidemiological features and symptoms. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the main epidemiological variables associated with death in a population individuals notified with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the capital cities of states from of the Southeast region of Brazil from 2020 to 2021. Moreover, the study intends to describe, the correlate symptomatology, the association between chronic disease and COVID-19, as well as the presence of chronic disease and death caused by COVID-19 complications. Methods As this is a retrospective study, analyzing secondary data obtained from public data sources (SIVEP influenza – Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System), available at: https://opendatasus.saude.gov.br/dataset, this study did not require an evaluation by the Research Ethics Committee, according to the Resolution 466/2012 - CNS/MS. The epidemiology of SARS infection was described from patients reported in the capitals of the Southeastern Brazil, from May 2020 to May 2021, through review of the SARS notification forms of the SIVEP flu database, synthesized in the form of a DOI: 10.54448/mdnt21615 SHORT ARTICLE