RURAL COVID-19: REGULATIONS AND RISKS (ON THE MATERIALS OF RURAL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS OF THE SARATOV REGION)
Authors:   Institute of Agrarian Problems of RAS, Rubtsova V. N. 
Published: January 2022

The globally observed outbreaks of the group of diseases caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the spread of new waves of the coronavirus COVID-19 after a short-term retreat of infection in Russia, makes it necessary to expand the object of study of the patterns of its spread, including in the field of study the identification and scientific substantiation of the factors determining the spread COVID-19 in rural areas of Russia. The purpose of the article is to identify and scientifically substantiate the factors that naturally affect the change in the registered rates of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the administrative districts of the Saratov region. The article summarizes the theoretical scien- tific positions formulated within the framework of ideas about the structural complexity, diversity and specificity of the problems of rural development, suggesting the use of non-standard approaches to their resolution, which have received recognition in the domestic and international scientific community. On the basis of general theoretical provisions, a methodology was developed and applied, which made it possible, by comparing the basic indicators of patients with a new coronavirus infection per 100,000 population in the administrative districts of the Saratov region with the numerical values of factors that can affect the change in the numerical value of the basic indicator, to identify special factors that significantly affect the change in the numerical values baseline indicator. These factors are recognized to be closely related to the indicators of the sick, stable, permanent. Based on a comparison of the baseline indicators of patients with a new coronavirus infection per 100,000 population, groups of rural administrative districts of the Saratov region with the maximum and mi- nimum rates of patients with a new coronavirus infection were identified. The absence of significant differences between the numerical values of the population density indicators, the provision of medical personnel, hospital beds in the groups of districts with the maximum and minimum rates of cases of new coronavirus infection per 100,000 of the population led to the conclusion that there are special factors that determine the presence of maximum and minimum rates of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in rural administrative areas. It was found that in the group of rural administrative districts of the Saratov region with the maximum rates of registered COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population, a natural negative factor that significantly affects the increase in the numerical values of baseline cases is the border position of this group of districts. The practical result of the study, which can be used to develop management decisions in the process of suppressing the spread of a group of diseases based on the SARS-CoV-2 virus in rural administrative districts of the Saratov region, are the measures proposed in the article to reduce the influence of negative factors in the group of districts with maximum indicators patients with coronavirus infection.