Hi, physician here with background in genetics.
The BA-5 variant was given an R0 of 18.5.
But BQ1.1 displaced BA-5 and thus was necessarily more contagious with a higher R0 (I read 2x more contagious - not sure how that translates into R0).
Now XBB1.5 is displacing BQ1.1 so more contagious still?!!
Or is it?
R0 is calculated in the lab but other conditions in the real world determine what really happens out in the real world.
Right now in North America, the only ones wearing masks and distancing are those who consider themselves vulnerable or a danger to v... (read more)
Hi, physician here with background in genetics. The BA-5 variant was given an R0 of 18.5. But BQ1.1 displaced BA-5 and thus was necessarily more contagious with a higher R0 (I read 2x more contagious - not sure how that translates into R0). Now XBB1.5 is displacing BQ1.1 so more contagious still?!! Or is it? R0 is calculated in the lab but other conditions in the real world determine what really happens out in the real world. Right now in North America, the only ones wearing masks and distancing are those who consider themselves vulnerable or a danger to v... (read more)