flatten the curve

COVID-19 has required us to understand the workings of a bell curve.  If the number of cases of infection increases rapidly we have a bell curve that rises steeply with a large number of cases at the peak of the curve. If we can reduce the numbers that are being infected each day we will pull back the peak of the curve to a lower level, or flatten the curve, so that at its worst we still have a manageable number of sick people to treat in our hospitals. 

 In times of crisis people do turn to black humour. The expression to flatten the curve has taken on a new meaning, that is, ‘to stay at home and do nothing’. ‘What are you doing this weekend?’ ‘Oh I’m flattening the curve.’