Features of the Epidemic Process of COVID-19 in the Republic of Buryatia during the Pandemic of the New Coronavirus Infection

The aim of the work was to analyze the development of the epidemiological situation on a new coronavirus infection in the Republic of Buryatia during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2023. Materials and methods . We used the data from weekly monitoring of laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 (patients and carriers), as well as the results of molecular-genetic typing of the pathogen that circulated in the constituent entity in the period of 2021–2023. Statistical and analytical calculations of epidemiological indicators were carried out using Microsoft Excel and RStudio software. Results and discussion . Seven waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Buryatia have been characterized; key periods of the II and V waves of COVID-19 incidence, when the number of people involved in the epidemic process reached peak values, have been identified. There was a tendency towards a steady decrease in the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia with confirmed COVID-19, the frequency of hospitalization and the mortality rate starting from the III wave of incidence. The time lag for changes in the epidemic situation in the Republic of Buryatia relative to the Russian Federation was about one week, which was explained by the ongoing active labor migration of the population within the Russian Federation. Most often, females were involved in the epidemic process; among age groups – children under 1 year old and adolescents 15–17 years old, as well as people 50 years and older. During the pandemic, the mild form of COVID-19 prevailed; the proportion of severe cases of the disease throughout the pandemic did not exceed 1.0 %. The main risk groups were pensioners, workers and individuals falling under the “others” category. The predominant sourse of suspected infection was family and close circle.