The infection fatality rate (IFR) is calculated on cumulative reported deaths and total number of infected. This rate has risen in recent days as some states have revised numbers.

A study by M Seshadri of Christian Medical College, Vellore, and CR Ranganathan of Coimbatore Institute of Technology, argues that deaths on a given day are related to cases identified much earlier, and hence fatality rate should be calculated accordingly.

This could give policymakers better insights to manage the disease. ET reports.