Flattening the infection curve

Flattening the infection curve means slowing the spread of an illness so that the number of active cases at any given time remains manageable for healthcare systems. Instead of a sharp spike with many people becoming ill at once, measures like social distancing and good hygiene spread out infections over a longer period. This helps ensure hospitals have enough resources, such as beds and staff, to care for all patients effectively. Ultimately, flattening the curve reduces overall harm and allows society to better cope with the outbreak without becoming overwhelmed.