Abstract:

Introduction:  The new coronavirus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-Sars-COV-2) has quickly spread around the world causing Coronavirus Disease 2019- COVID-19, a potentially severe respiratory disease that is a threat to life. Thousands of people, especially health professionals, increase their vulnerabilities and integrate the statistics of cases, death, and lethality due to occupational exposure.

Objective:  To describe the epidemiological situation of nursing professionals in Brazil affected by COVID-19.

Method:  Epidemiological, observational, and descriptive study using secondary data. All COVID-19 notifications were included between professionals at the Nursing Observatory from April 3, 2020, to May 26, 2021. The data were submitted to the descriptive analysis.

Results:  56 114 (100 %) cases have been reported. Among the variables analyzed, the age group between 31 and 40 years old was the most affected with a total of 19 761 records (35.21 %), 784 (1.39 %) professionals died, with a greater predominance in female patients: a total of 531 (67.72 %) notifications. Regarding lethality, males added the highest index (5.16 %). The Southeast Region notified the highest cases, especially the state of São Paulo. This age group gathered the highest rate of sick leaves under Covid-19 suspicion and, during the quarantine, they constituted 36.46% (6 074 cases).

Conclusion:  The findings allowed us to know cases of illness, death, and lethality of COVID-19 among nursing professionals, revealing the urgent need for strategies that minimize these risks in their work environments.

Descriptors: Nursing care; Epidemiology; Coronavirus infections; Pandemic; Nursing professionals