1 COVID-19 Patient Can Infect 406 People In 30 Days If Social Distancing Is Not Followed: ICMR Study

Lav Agarwal, an official from the Health Ministry quoted a study conducted by ICMR to reiterate the significance of following social distancing. Agarwal said the study indicated that 1 Coronavirus patient can infect 406 people in 30 days if he/she doesn’t follow the lockdown. In medical terms, this component is known as ‘R naught.’ Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry said, ‘According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study, the current ‘R naught’ for the coronavirus infection is somewhere between 1.5 and 4. If we take the 'R naught’ to be 2.5 then one positive person can infect 406 people in 30 days, if the lockdown and social distancing measures are not in place. But if social exposure is reduced by 75 per cent then that one sick person will only be able to infect only 2.5 persons.’ The total number of confirmed cases in India has reached 5194 with 149 deaths being reported.