Quote Originally Posted by delmbox View Post
It's the amount of people one person could infect. For example if the R number is 3 then each person who gets it will pass it on to 3 other people, if it's 1 then each person will pass it on to 1 other person.
This is what I don't understand. Doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever.

We are continually told this virus is highly contagious. We are told by the medical experts that anyone you come into contact with could become infected if you have the virus, even if you're not showing showing any symptoms. Then they start talking about R numbers, which apparently fluctuate.

Maybe I'm just too literal or stupid, but that sounds ridiculous to me. If anything, I think talk of the R number has confused the issue for the public, particularly when many of those discussing it obviously don't really know what they're on about.

If I have Covid-19 and I'm in direct contact with ten people today, what physical difference does an R number make?