Does the drop in R-value indicate Covid second wave peak?    

While new cases continue to climb, with the number crossing the 4-lakh mark for three days in a row, a reduction in R-value indicates that the infection is likely to spread slower than before. And that will be a much-needed breather required at this stage.   

There is a glimmer of hope in the midst of the raging Coronavirus pandemic. India's effective reproduction value (R), an indicator of how fast the infection can spread, has dropped down to a level seen in the first week of March. Even though new cases continue to climb and the number crossed the 4-lakh mark for three days in a row, a reduction in R-value indicates that the infection is likely to spread slower than before. And that will be a much-needed breather required at this stage.