Scientists have now told us that the best way to contain new infections is to practice social distancing. Social distancing together with isolating sick patients and implementing quarantines of suspected cases is the surest bet to contain the spread of corona virus.
The table below shows just how fast the virus can infect the entire global population in just 33 infection cycles or waves. This assumes one person infects two others and no containment measures are put in place.
| Infection Cycles | Rate of Infection (1 person infects 2 others) | Cumulative Infections |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 4 | 8 | 12 |
| 5 | 16 | 24 |
| 6 | 32 | 48 |
| 7 | 64 | 96 |
| 8 | 128 | 192 |
| 9 | 256 | 384 |
| 10 | 512 | 768 |
| 11 | 1,024 | 1,536 |
| 12 | 2,048 | 3,072 |
| 13 | 4,096 | 6,144 |
| 14 | 8,192 | 12,288 |
| 15 | 16,384 | 24,576 |
| 16 | 32,768 | 49,152 |
| 17 | 65,536 | 98,304 |
| 18 | 131,072 | 196,608 |
| 19 | 262,144 | 393,216 |
| 20 | 524,288 | 786,432 |
| 21 | 1,048,576 | 1,572,864 |
| 22 | 2,097,152 | 3,145,728 |
| 23 | 4,194,304 | 6,291,456 |
| 24 | 8,388,608 | 12,582,912 |
| 25 | 16,777,216 | 25,165,824 |
| 26 | 33,554,432 | 50,331,648 |
| 27 | 67,108,864 | 100,663,296 |
| 28 | 134,217,728 | 201,326,592 |
| 29 | 268,435,456 | 402,653,184 |
| 30 | 536,870,912 | 805,306,368 |
| 31 | 1,073,741,824 | 1,610,612,736 |
| 32 | 2,147,483,648 | 3,221,225,472 |
| 33 | 4,294,967,296 | 6,442,450,944 |
| 34 | 8,589,934,592 | 12,884,901,888 |
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