Brazil's Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday, November 10, that Covid-19 cases and deaths fell by 68.8% in 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Health authorities recorded 118,851 cases of flu-like syndrome caused by Covid-19 in 2026.
Confirmed deaths linked to Covid-19 dropped by 69%, falling from 1,400 in 2025 to 437 in 2026. Severe infections also declined, with records of severe acute respiratory syndrome, known in Brazil by the acronym SRAG, falling by 63% from 9,200 notifications last year to 3,400 in 2026.
The Ministry of Health is the federal cabinet department responsible for national epidemiological surveillance, immunisation drives and public health policy in Brazil. In clinical monitoring, flu-like syndrome refers to milder acute respiratory illness, whereas severe acute respiratory syndrome covers patients who develop serious breathing complications.
Regional trends across Brazilian states
Despite the national drop in severe cases, 18 of Brazil's 27 federative units, which comprise 26 states and the Federal District, reported an increase in mild cases. According to the ministry, all 18 jurisdictions remain classified as low risk.
The rise in mild cases was reported in Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Distrito Federal, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia, Roraima, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo. Five of those territories, Mato Grosso, Distrito Federal, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Santa Catarina, also recorded a slight increase in severe acute respiratory syndrome from Covid-19.
National Covid-19 vaccination programme
The Ministry of Health said vaccination is the main way to prevent severe cases and deaths. Since 2024, the Covid-19 vaccine has been part of Brazil's National Vaccination Calendar for children aged six months to under five years, pregnant women and older adults aged 60 and over.
Health officials also recommend the Covid-19 vaccine for immunocompromised individuals and people with underlying comorbidities. In 2026, more than 20.3 million vaccine doses were distributed across the country, and 7.4 million doses were administered.
