INTRODUCTION: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the whole world, including Brazil with regard to the number of deaths. Epidemiological data are important for understanding the course of the disease, in addition to contributing to preventive, educational and technical measures. OBJECTIVE: To analyze epidemiological aspects of deaths due to COVID-19 in the period from March to May 2020 in Brazil. CASUISTICS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive study, using data published and extracted from the Ministry of Health's Information System between March and May 2020. Absolute simple frequencies of 145,328 cases were analyzed by COVID-19 and 9.89 (6, 8%) deaths. The analyzes included age group; risk group according to age and geographic distribution. RESULTS: The results showed that 69% were over 60 years old and 65% had at least one risk factor. Heart disease was the main associated comorbidity and was present in 3,425 deaths, followed by diabetes, kidney disease, neurological disease and pneumopathy. Most deaths were registered in the Southeast followed by the Northeast and North. CONCLUSION: Infection control, education and population orientation measures for the control of COVID-19 should be intensified in individuals over 60 years of age, with a history of heart disease and in temperate regions.