Abstract
Objective: accomplish a literature review that covers the main contents about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19): epidemiology, virology of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), pathogenesis, transmission, clinical aspects, diagnosis, potential treatment, prophylaxis and the negative impacts of the COVID-19 in the world economy. Literature review: Little is known about the infectivity mechanism of SARS-CoV-2, but as it is a new virus, it is believed that the entire human population is susceptible to infection and COVID-19. The disease was first reported in China and since then, there has been an exponential increase in the number of cases, causing the World Health Organization to declare it as a pandemic, the effects of which have been collapsing the health system and triggering a negative impact in the world economy. Final considerations: The capacity of the health system, the intervention of government authorities through the elaboration and execution of protective strategies and the cooperation of the population in the fulfillment of decrees are fundamental for the control of the pandemic, until sufficient knowledge about the virus exists and, consequently, a vaccine and specific treatment is developed.