Epidemiological impacts of COVID-19 and public health control measures

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has become one of the greatest public health emergencies of recent decades, significantly impacting health systems and social organization worldwide. The rapid spread of the virus and the diversity of clinical manifestations required the implementation of several prevention and control strategies in different countries. The objective of this study was to analyze the main epidemiological impacts of COVID-19, as well as the control measures adopted in the field of public health during the pandemic. This study is an integrative literature review with a descriptive approach, based on the search for scientific articles published between 2020 and 2025 in the PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, and Virtual Health Library (BVS) databases. Studies addressing epidemiological aspects of COVID-19, impacts on public health, and strategies for disease prevention and control were included. The results showed that COVID-19 presented high transmissibility and significant morbidity and mortality, especially among older adults and individuals with comorbidities. In addition, the literature highlights important impacts on the population’s mental health and on the organization of health systems. Non-pharmacological measures, such as social distancing, mask use, and hand hygiene, associated with mass vaccination, played a fundamental role in reducing viral transmission, hospitalizations, and deaths. It is concluded that the integration between epidemiological surveillance, public health policies, and immunization programs was essential to face the pandemic and mitigate its impacts on public health.