3 votes

Here’s what the oft-cited R0 number tells us about the new outbreak—and what it doesn’t.

2 comments

  1. skybrian
    Link
    From the article: [...] [...] [...] [...]

    From the article:

    R0 is important because if it’s greater than 1, the infection will probably keep spreading, and if it’s less than 1, the outbreak will likely peter out.

    [...]

    [T]he R0 estimates for the new coronavirus are in line with those for many other diseases.

    [...]

    [A] bigger R0 doesn’t necessarily mean a worse disease.

    [...]

    R0 is an average. Let’s say the virus has an R0 of 2. This could mean that every single infected person passes the virus to two other people. It could also mean that one infected person is a “super-spreader” who infects 100 people, while 49 infected people infect no one. These two scenarios have radically different implications for what will happen during an outbreak.

    [...]

    The current R0 estimates for the new coronavirus are specific to Wuhan, and mostly to the era before people knew about the virus.

    2 votes
  2. c_hawkthorne
    Link
    How incredibly irresponsible of the doctor to say such things. Either he's woefully ignorant and unwilling to do research or intentionally spreading misinformation incredibly early into an...

    How incredibly irresponsible of the doctor to say such things. Either he's woefully ignorant and unwilling to do research or intentionally spreading misinformation incredibly early into an outbreak which little is known.

    It's refreshing to see an article talking some sense and not trying to be sensationalist.

    1 vote