Abstract
ObjectiveTo estimate the basic reproduction number (R0) for COVID-19 in Western Europe.MethodsData (official statistics) on the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 at the start of the outbreak (before any confinement rules were declared) were retrieved in the 15 largest countries in Western Europe, allowing us to estimate the exponential growth rate of the disease. The rate was then combined with estimates of the distribution of the generation interval as reconstructed from the literature.ResultsDespite the possible unreliability of some official statistics about COVID-19, the spread of the disease appears to be remarkably similar in most European countries, allowing us to estimate an average R0 in Western Europe of 2.2 (95% CI: 1.9–2.6).ConclusionsThe value of R0 for COVID-19 in Western Europe appears to be significantly lower than that in China. The proportion of immune persons in the European population required to stop the outbreak could thus be closer to 50% than to 70%.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Despite the possible unreliability of some official statistics about COVID-19, the spread of the disease appears to be remarkably similar in most European countries, allowing us to estimate an average R0 in Western Europe of 2.2
We provide an estimation of R0 for COVID-19 in Western Europe
Summary
Data (official statistics) on the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 at the start of the outbreak (before any confinement rules were declared) were retrieved in the 15 largest countries in Western Europe, allowing us to estimate the exponential growth rate of the disease. The rate was combined with estimates of the distribution of the generation interval as reconstructed from the literature
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