R number
noun/ˈɑː nʌmbə(r)/
/ˈɑːr nʌmbər/
[countable] (also R [uncountable])
- a way of measuring how quickly a virus spreads through a population by calculating the average number of people who get an infection from just one person with the virus (the abbreviation for ‘reproduction number’ or ‘reproductive number’)
- Scientists will be watching the R number very closely to ensure it doesn't rise above 1.0.
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R number