Up to August, 17.9 million persons (8.5% of the population) had been tested for the coronavirus infection (up to July that figure was 13.3 million persons, or 6.3% of the population). A total 21.6% (or 3.9 million persons) tested positive.

The unemployed population, which was 10.1 million persons at the start of the survey, increased to 12.3 million in July, and has reached 12.9 million (an increase of 5.5% in the month and of 27.6% since the start of the survey).

The workforce increased from 93.7 million persons in July to 95.1 million in August (an increase of 1.4% against the previous month).

The number of persons out of the workforce changed from 76.5 million in July and 75.2 million persons in August, which corresponds to a reduction of 1.6% against the previous month.

Among the Federation Units, Acre had the biggest proportion of persons away from work due to social distancing: 12.4%. Except for Acre, Amapá and Rondônia, all the Federation Units recorded decreases in the percentage of persons away from work due to social distancing in August, against July.

Among the 6.7 million employed persons away from work in Brazil, in the week of reference, about 1.6 million (23.7%) were receiving no earnings. A consequence of the gradual resumption of activities, both at national and regional levels was the second straight increase in the number of hours really worked. The average number of hours usually worked was 40.1 per week, but only 34.1 hours, on average, were really worked. 

The North and Northeast had the biggest proportions of housing units where one of the residents is a beneficiary of the emergency aid program. In the North Region, three states are among the five biggest percentages: Amapá (71.4%), Maranhão (65.5%), Pará (64.5%), Alagoas (63.5%) and Amazonas (61.9%).

Additional information on the IBGE actions to fight the pandemic is available at covid19.ibge.gov.br

Biggest percentage of persons who tested positive for Covid 19 are between 20 and 59 years of age

There was virtually no difference in the percentage of men and women tested for coronavirus, 8.3% and 8.7%, respectively. By age group, the biggest percentage was among persons aged 30 and 59 (11.9%), followed by those aged 20 and 29 (9.5%) and persons aged 30 to 59 years of age (7.3%). The higher the level of schooling, the bigger the percentage of persons tested. Among those with no schooling up to incomplete elementary school, 4.4% and among those with complete higher education or a graduate degree, 17.9%.

The higher the per capita household earnings per capita, the bigger the percentage of persons being tested for COVID19, reaching 18.0% for persons in the highest decile and below 5.0% in the first two deciles. The percentage of persons testing positive changed between 18.7% (in the 10th decile) and 26.4% (in the 2nd decile).

Considering the type of test, among tested persons, 6.9 million had the swab test and 25.2% tested positive; 8.0 million had the finger prick blood test and 17.6% tested positive; another 5.3 million had blood collected from a vein in the arm, and 24.7% tested positive for Covid 19.

The Federation Unit with the biggest percentage of tests was the Federal District (19.4%), followed by Piauí (14.4) and Roraima (12.0%). On the other hand, Pernambuco had the lowes percentages (5,8%), followed by (6.0%) and Minas Gerais (6,1%).

Chronic diseases surveyed reach 45 million persons

In August, there were 45.0 million persons with at least one of the chronic diseases surveyed, corresponding to 21.3% of the population, being the most prevalent diseases: asthma or bronchitis, emphysema (5.1%); diabetes (5.0%); depression (2.7%); heart diseases (2.4%) and cancer (1.0%). The percentage of persons with any of the chronic diseases who tested positive was 2.5%.

One out of every five persons was strictly isolated at home

Among the 211.3 million residents, 4.5 million (2.1%) did not follow any restriction measures in August; 74.9 million (35.5%) reduced contact but were still going out; 88 million (41.6%) stayed home and went out only for basic necessities; and 42.4 million (20.1%) in strict isolation. The behavior was similar in the Major Regions. Compared to July, there was an increase by 5 percentage points of those reducing social contact, but still going out, in comparison with groups that only went out for basic necessities and were in strict isolation.

There was a higher percentage of women than men following strict distancing measures; in terms of age groups, social distancing was highest among those aged up to 13 (89.6%). In August, the percentage of this group regarding strict distancing measures surpassed that of persons aged 60 and over (81.2%).

Percentage of persons with flu-like symptoms is still on a downward trend

In August, 12.1 million persons (5.7% of the population) had flu-like symptoms; in May, 11.4%; in June, 7.3% and in July, 6.5% did.

The percentages of persons with flu-like symptoms were very similar among the Major Regions, with the South recording the highest percentage (6.2%, equivalent to 1.9 million persons) and the Southeast Region, the lowest (5.4%, or 4.8 million persons with at least one of the symptoms).

Among the persons with flu-like symptoms surveyed, 57.2% were women, 47.3% were between 30 and 59 years of age, 55.3% were self-declared black or brown persons and 38.0% had no schooling or incomplete elementary school. 

In August, about 23.4% (2.8 million) of the persons who had at least one of the symptoms surveyed sought assistance at a health establishment. That was the highest percentage and the lowest absolute number of persons seeking medical assistance, since the start of the survey. 

Black and brown persons are the majority among hospitalized persons 

In August, among persons seeking medical assistance at hospitals, 12.0% (125 thousand, versus 138 thousand in July) of those with any of the symptoms surveyed and 13.3% (52 thousand, versus 71 thousand in July) of those with overlapped symptoms had to be hospitalized. 

As for color or race, black or brown persons were the one that needed hospitalization the most (55.2%, among those with any of the symptoms and 50.9% with overlapped symptoms).

In the months of May, June and July, most of the persons who needed to be hospitalized were men. Nevertheless, in August, that profile was inverted once more and women were the majority in need of hospitalization (52.7% of those with any symptoms and 51.2% of those with overlapped symptoms).

In the North Region, 38.6 of the persons who attended school had no access to activities 

In August, 45.7 million persons aged 6 to 29 years of age were attending school of university, which represented 59.3% of the population in this age group. Among those attending classes, 60.9% were taking elementary school; 21%, high school and 18.1%, higher education. As for availability of school activities, 80.4% had activities,  16.6% did not, and 3% did not because they were on vacation. The number of persons attending school, but without activities, was 7.6 million, and that of persons with activities was 36.8 million.

In the North Region, 38.6% of the children, teenagers and youth attending school had no activities to do. In the South, Southeast and Central West, those percentages were 6.4%, 10.3% and 10.5%, respectively.

At elementary school, 14.4% of the persons had no school activities; in high school, 18.6% and in higher education, 21.3%. In the North Region, 35.9% of the children in elementary school and 44.3% of those in high school had no activities to perform in August. In the South Region, in turn, 95.3% of the children in elementary school and 93% of those in high school ad activities to do.

Among the persons living in households with per capita earnings of up to ½ a minimum wage, 21.5% had no school activities; among households with per capita earnings of 4 or more minimum wages, the figure was 7.9%.

Highest refusal of loans was in the North Region 

From the total 68.7 million households in the country, in about 4.9 million (7.1%) a resident tried to get a loan, and in 4.1 million (6%) they succeeded, whereas to 741 thousand (1.1%), the loan was not granted. Against July there was an increase of the percentage of housing units in which a resident tried to get a loan (1.2 p.p.), together with an increase in the proportion of housing units in which that loan was granted (1.3 p.p.).

In the North Region there was a higher refusal of loans, in about 19.5% making a request. In the South Region, which concentrated the loan requests (8%), there was also the lowest refusal rate (12.5%).

Employed population reaches 12.9 million persons

In August 2020, PNAD COVID19 estimated the employed population in the country at 84.4 million persons, with an increase of 0.8% against July, but yet with a cumulative decrease of 2.7% against May,

The employed population, which was 10.1 million in the start of the survey, went to 12.3 million in June and now, 12.9 million persons (with an increase of 5.5% of the marginal result and of 27.6% since the start of the survey). The South Region was the only one to record a decrease in the unemployed population (-2.3%). The Northeast (14.3%) and North (10.3%) recorded the biggest changes. 

In Brazil, according to the results of PNAD COVID, the unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points from July to August (with a change from 13.1% to 13.6%). The rate in August was higher than in July in the North, Northeast and Southeast, and remained unchanged in the Central West, with falling results in the South Region, only. Unemployment rates in August, in decreasing order, were: 15.7% (Northeast), 14.2% (North), 14.0% (Southeast), Central West (12.2%) and 10.0% (South). 

The unemployment rate among women was 16.2%, higher than among men (11.7%), and the difference was also observed in all the Major Regions. By color or race, in Brazil and in all the Major Regions the rate was higher among black and brown persons (15.4%) than among white ones (11.5%). By age, younger persons had higher unemployment rates (23.3% for those aged 14 to 29) and by level of schooling, those with complete higher education of with a graduate degree had the lowest rates (6.8%).

Workforce rises 1.4%

Workforce rose from 93.7 million in July to 95.1 million in August (an increase of 1.4% against July).

The number of persons out of the workforce changed from 76.5 million to 75.2 million in August, which corresponds to a decrease of 1.6% against the previous month. From that total, 36.1% (27.2 million) would like to work, but did not look for a job and 23.3% (17.5 million) did not search for work due to the pandemic or lack of work in the locality, but would like to work. 

In the beginning of the survey, in May, 70.2% of the persons who, although they would like to work, did not do it, reported that the main reason was the pandemic or lack of positions in the locality. That percentage has fallen month after month: in July, 67.0% of the persons who did not work although they would like to, reported the same aforementioned reasons, In August, that proportion fell to 64.4%.

Employment-population ratio increased from 47.9% in July to 48.2% in August. That slight increase in the estimates reached all the Major Regions, with the lowest levels observed in the North and Northeast, 39.7% and 45.6%, respectively. Since the start of the survey, in those regions are less than half of those at working age in the labor market.

Persons away from work due to social distancing is still on a downward trend 

Among the 82.1 million persons employed in August, 6.7 million were away from work in the week of reference, being 4.1 million away from work due to social distancing, representing, respectively, decreases of 31.3% and 38.9% in relation to the total persons away from work in July. These indicators have recorded successive decreases since the beginning of the pandemic, as social distancing measures are reduced in Brazil, reaching 64.7% and 73.6% respectively. The decrease of work leaves due to the pandemic can also be observed by means of the number of persons away in the total employed population, which decreased from 8.3% to 5.0%. In May, that percentage was 18.6%.

By Major Region, in August, the North replaced the Northeast as the Major Region that had the biggest percentage of persons away from work due to social distancing, 6.6%, against 6.3% in the Northeast, which has led the indicator since the beginning of the survey. In second position comes the Southeast Region, with 4.7%, and the Central West, with 4.6%, whereas the South Region was the least affected one: 3.8%. The proportion of persons who were away from work due to social distancing fell from July to August in all the Major Regions, a trend observed since May. 

Regarding Federation Units, Acre recorded the biggest proportion of employed population who was away from work due to social distancing, 12.4%. Except for Acre, Amapá and Rondônia, all the Federation Units had, in August, a smaller percentage of persons away from work due to social distancing than in July. 

Persons aged 60 and over still have the biggest proportion of persons away from work due to the pandemic, keeping the pattern observed since May. In July, 15.4% of the employed persons aged 60 and over were away from work. In August, that proportion fell to 10.7%. In all the other age groups, there was a decrease. In August, 7.1% of the employed women were away from work due to social distancing (in July that percentage was 11.3%), whereas among men, the percentage was 3.6% in August (6.2% in July).

The group Agriculture, livestock, forestry and aquaculture still recorded the smallest percentage of persons away from work (1.6%), whereas groups in Public administration, defense and social security, education and health (9.9%), Other services (7.6%), Domestic services (6.5%) and Lodging and feeding (5.7%) were those with the biggest proportion of persons away from work. All the groups recorded a decrease in the proportion of persons away from work due to social distancing, with a highlight to Other services (a reduction by 9.1 percentage points).

Broadly speaking, workers in the private sector, self-employed workers and employers, during this resumption period, are the categories that were least away from their activities, in proportional terms, and remained at the same level as in the previous month. In Brazil, employers still recorded the smallest percentage of persons away from work due to the pandemic (2.1%), followed by self-employed workers (3.3%), workers in the private sector with a formal contract (4.4%) and workers in the private sector without a formal contract (4.5%). Against July, there was a decrease in the proportion of persons away from work in all the categories of position in the occupation; nevertheless, the decrease was most significant among domestic workers without a formal contract (a decrease by 7.4 percentage points.), civil servants without a formal contract (a decrease by 5.0 p.p.), self-employed workers (by 4.3 p.p.) and workers in the private sector without a formal contract (by 4.3 p.p.). In fact, all of these are categories most often away from work in the beginning of the pandemic. 

1.6 million persons away from work had no compensation 

Among the 6.7 million employed persons away from work in the week of reference in Brazil, approximately 1.6 million persons (23.7%) were receiving no compensation from work. In July, that percentage reached 32.4%, but has fallen consistently throughout the pandemic. The Southeast Region had the smallest percentage, 21.8% and the Northeast Region, the highest, 29.8%. There was a decrease of the percentage of persons in these conditions in all the Major Regions compared to July. 

Number of persons in remote work remains stable 

In August, 75.5 million persons (91.9% of the employed population) were not away from work they had (in July, they were 88.1%). Among persons working from home, who were 11.1% of the employed population not away from work (8.4 million persons). The absolute number of persons working from home remained almost unchanged throughout the survey: 8.7 million persons in May; 8.6 million in June and 8.4 million in July and August. The North Regions had the smallest percentage of persons working from home (4.6%) and the Southeast Region had the biggest percentage (14.0%).

The percentage of women working from home was 15.7%, higher than that of men (8.0%). Those persons were spread among the age groups (9.3% of persons aged 14 to 29; 12.0% of persons aged 30 to 49; 10.6% of persons 50 to 59 and 12.4% of persons aged 60 and over). Among those without schooling up to incomplete elementary school and those with complete elementary school up to incomplete high school, the percentages were very low (0.5% and 1.2%, respectively). However for persons with complete higher education of a graduate degree, 33.6% were working from home. 

For those with complete high school up to incomplete higher education, the percentage was 6.0%. That relationship between schooling and remote work was observed in all the Major Regions, especially in the Southeast, where 38.1% of the persons with complete higher education or a graduate degree were in that condition. The proportion of persons working remotely fell between March and August, in all the groups.  

Informal work remains stable 

Informal workers amounted to 27.9 million in August. As a result, the informality rate remained stable between July (33.6%) and August (33.9%).

Number of hours worked per week keeps increasing in all the Major Regions 

A consequence of the advance in the gradual resumption of activities was the second straight increase, both at national and at regional level, of the number of hours really worked for employed persons. The number of hours usually worked per week was 40.1 hours and that of hours really worked in the week of reference was 34.1 hours.

There was not much disparity among Major Regions regarding the difference betweeen number of usual and real hours, being the biggest difference observed in the Northeast (6.6 hours of difference) and the smallest, in the Central West (5.4 hours of difference).

The difference between usual and real hours of work was 7.1 for women and 5.2 hours for men.

In Brazil, in August, 21.7% of the employed persons not away from work, worked fewer hours than the usual ones (16.3 million persons). However, for 3.0 million persons, the number of hours really worked surpassed the usual hours, corresponding to 3.9% of the employed persons not away from work. Considering Major Regions, that percentage ranged between 3.2% in the South and 4.5% in the Southeast.

Southeast and South have the lowest proportions of real earnings compared to usual earnings

In August, usual earnings from all the activities was, on average, R$ 2,384, and real earnings, R$ 2,137, that is, real earnings made up 89.7% of the usual earnings, and 87.4% in July. In the Southeast, the average real earnings from all the activities represented 89.0% of what was usually earned, and in the South, 89.3%, causing the two regions to have the biggest differences, both with percentages below the national average. From July to August, neither the usual or the real earnings recorded big changes, in real terms.

The usual wage bill changed from R$ 191.0 billion in July to R$ 192.7 billion in August. The increase in wage bill was due to the increase of the employed population. Considering real earnings, the increase of wage bill was of 3.5% (with a change from R$ 167 billion in July to R$ 172.7 billion in August).

Considering the position in the only or main job in the week ofn reference, self-employed workers and employers were the ones with the biggest differences between usual and real earnings: 76.9% and 81.4%, respectively.

Per capita household earnings of households where no one receives emergency aid is twice as that of where residents do

The average real per capita household earnings (R$) in Brazil, in August, was R$ 1,302, that is, 2.2% above the July figure (R$ 1,274). The Northeast and North Region had the lowest figures, R$ 911 and R$ 920, respectively.

In August, in Brazil, the per capita household earnings of households where none of the residents received any aid from the government due to the pandemic (R$ 1,802) was, on the average, two times higher than that of households where a resident received the aid (R$ 816). That proportion was the same in the Major Regions.

The proportion of housing units receiving some aid due to the pandemic, in Brazil, changed from 44.1% to 43.9% in August, with an average R$ 901 per household. The North and Northeast once more recorded the highest percentages of households receiving the aid, 61.0% and 59.1%, respectively. Among the aids available are the Emergency Aid and the complement provided by the Government by means of the Emergency Employment and Income Maintenance Program.

As observed before, the states of North and Northeast recorded the biggest proportions of households where one of the residents is a beneficiary of an emergency aid program. In the North Region, three states are among those five with the biggest percentages: Amapá (71.4%); Maranhão (65.5%); Pará (64.5%); Alagoas (63.5%) and Amazonas (61.9%). The come the other states in the North and Northeast, all of them with more than half of the households receiving the emergency aid, whereas states in the other Major Regions were all below 50%. In the South, Rio Grande do Sul (29.2%) and Santa Catarina (24.8%) had the smallest proportions.