Why is Estimating the Reproduction Number Important?
The reproduction number is a key parameter in epidemiology. If Rt is greater than 1, each infected individual, on average, infects more than one other person, leading to an exponential increase in cases. If Rt is less than 1, the outbreak will eventually dwindle. Monitoring Rt helps public health officials to assess the effectiveness of intervention measures such as social distancing, quarantine, and vaccination.
