The R number has been guiding Government on when to lift lockdown. But the K number will become crucial for fighting a second wave, scientists believe. The R rate is slowly being quashed by unprecedented restrictions on movement and proximity during the lockdown. Governments everywhere want to force the reproduction number down from about 3 (the natural R number if no action was taken) to below one. AdvertisementThe K number tracks the extent to which new outbreaks are caused by a few 'superspreading events', The Sunday Times reports.

Source: Daily Mail May 31, 2020 11:22 UTC