Study of the Impact of Social and Environmental Factors on the Spread of Coronavirus Infection in Russian Regions

Abstract

The spread of the dangerous Covid-19 infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus since the end of 2019 has become a big challenge for both the world and Russian society. Thus, on January 30, 2020, the world health organization recognized the spread of a new infection as a public health emergency of international significance. On March 11, 2020, the same organization stated that the outbreak had become a pandemic. Currently, the role of social and environmental factors (which determine the spread of many environmentally-related diseases) in the spread of coronavirus infection in the population is not fully understood. The spread of Covid-19 infection in Russia can be divided into 3 stages. Stage 1 (31.01.2020-01.04.2020) - primary distribution. At this stage, the infection occurred mainly of Russian citizens visiting other countries. Stage 2 (1.04.2020-12.05.2020) - active distribution within the country. By the end of this stage, the maximum spread of infection is recorded. Stage 3 (12.05.2020-present) - gradual decline in the appearance of new cases of coronavirus infection. To assess the specific contribution of social and environmental conditions to the spread of coronavirus infection, data from the Federal information Fund for social and hygienic monitoring of the Federal center for hygiene and epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor on indicators of financial security of citizens, quality of health care and sanitary conditions were analyzed. Studies have shown that at the first stages, a significant contribution to the spread of infection is made by the financial security of the population. The specific contribution of the quality of medical care, which is widely differentiated within the regions of Russia, affects only the third stage of the spread of coronavirus infection. Environmental and hygiene indicators make a weak contribution to the spread of Covid-19 at all three stages of the epidemic.