The new coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, is a single-stranded RNA virus. The main mechanism of entry of the virus in the cells of the hosts is through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) that acts as a receptor in the epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract. The aim of this research was to describe the epidemiological profile of those affected by COVID-19 in the city of Macapá, Brazil, in addition to calculating the lethality rates by age group, sex and previous morbidity. A quantitative analysis was carried out based on confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the municipality of Macapá, with secondary data extracted from the database and aggregated information from the Municipal Health Department. The analysis of the epidemiological profile of those affected, the evolution and severity of COVID-19 is important to determine and adapt mitigation strategies and to allow the planning of actions and health care to combat SARS-CoV-2 in Macapá.

No final de dezembro de 2019, em Wuhan, China, surgiu uma nova variedade do Coronavírus, sendo declarado como uma emergência em saúde pública mundial pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). O tropismo pelas vias aéreas pode dever-se a expressão da enzima conversora de angiotensina 2 (ACE2). Na região da Amazônia Legal brasileira, até 22 de março de 2020, o Estado do Amazonas apresentou 26 casos confirmados; o Acre 11 casos; o Pará 04; Rondônia 03; Roraima, Tocantins, Maranhão e Mato Grosso 02 casos; e o Amapá apenas 01 caso confirmado. Este estudo visa quantificar e analisar os primeiras casos suspeitos e confirmados de COVID-19 em Macapá, Amapá, Amazônia, Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo observacional, retrospectivo e quantitativo, referente ao perfil dos 108 primeiros casos suspeitos notificados em Macapá, entre 13 de março de 2020 e 21 de março de 2020, e aos cálculos de incidência de COVID-19 nas 26 capitais brasileiras e Brasília, Distrito Federal, entre 26 de Fevereiro de 2020 e 26 de Março de 2020. Os estudos realizados podem revelar um padrão próprio de disseminação do vírus, o que contribuiria para o planejamento e para a implementação de medidas de controle e de vigilância epidemiológica mais efetivas. Palavras-chave: COVID 19, ACE2, coronavírus, pandemia.

Objective To analyze the factors associated with mental distress among health workers who cared for patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods A cross-sectional analytical study of national scope, carried out between in the second quarter of 2020. A total of 437 health professionals, who filled out an electronic form about sociodemographic data, occupational aspects, psychosocial characteristics of work and mental distress. Multiple logistic regression was performed to analyze the covariables associated with mental distress. Results There was a predominance of workers on the nursing team (65.0%), female (71.0%), from Southeastern region of the country (68.6%) and with no morbidities (36.2%). The prevalence of mental distress was 61.6%. Job strain was reported by 24% of participants, and the perception of low support from coworkers was described by 52.9%. The final multiple regression model showed that mental distress was associated with females (odds ratio - OR: 1.93; 95%CI: 1.22-3.07), age up to 40 years (OR: 1.64; 95%CI: 1.07-2.52), weekly working hours equal or over 60 hours (OR: 1.87; 95%CI: 1.15-3.11), job strain (OR: 2.45; 95%CI: 1.41-4.40) and low support from co-workers (OR: 3.47; 95%CI: 2.26-5.38). Conclusion Six out of ten participants presented mental distress, which was associated to both individual characteristics and factors related to the work carried out during the pandemic. There is an urgent need to map services that have such characteristics, to outline actions to promote mental health and prevent emotional distress at different levels of health care.

Objective to evaluate distress and pleasure indicators in health care workers on the front line of care for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases. Method an exploratory, analytical and cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. The studied sample consisted of 437 health professionals invited by electronic means, who answered the questionnaire on sociodemographic information, occupational aspects and clinical conditions. Distress and pleasure at work were considered as outcomes, which were analyzed with multinomial logistic regression regarding the associated independent variables. Results Most of the participants were female (71.0%), nurses (55.6%), with a weekly working shift of 40 hours or more (75.8%); 61.6% of the participants suffered from mental distress. The psychosocial characteristics of high-strain work and low social support were reported by 23.8% and 52.9% of the participants, respectively. In the multiple analysis, distress and lack of pleasure at work were associated with high job strain, low support from co-workers and mental distress. The profession is also associated with distress at work. Conclusion distress and lack of pleasure at work are associated with occupational characteristics and mental strain among health care workers in the COVID-19 scenario.

This case-control study paired by gender and age analyzes factors associated with the death of indigenous people from COVID-19 in the state of Amapá, Brazil. Data were collected from a public secondary database produced by the Amapá State Department of Health. Cases (n=29) were deaths of indigenous people from COVID-19 and controls were cures of the disease (n=87), recorded between April 2020 and January 2021. Data from individuals with active disease were excluded. Univariate analysis followed by multiple logistic regression were performed to study the independent variables associated with death. Most cases of death were women (51.7%), without comorbidities (62.1%), residing in cities of the Metropolitan Region of Macapá (RMM) (65.5%) and in urban areas (89.7%). Median age of the death group was 72 years (interquartile range=21.5). The final multiple model showed that indigenous individuals with cardiovascular comorbidity had a 4.01 times greater chance (95% confidence interval - 95% CI=1.05-15.36) of death by COVID-19 when compared with indigenous people without comorbidities. And that indigenous people residing in the RMM had a 2.90 times greater chance (95%CI = 1.10-7.67) of death when compared with indigenous residing in the countryside.