The serial interval (SI) is a parameter required by most of the estimators, and can also be estimated by some of them (if not specified). For the latter, "—" is reported in the "Serial interval" column of the estimates table, and the estimated value is shown next to the R0 result(s) as "(SI = ...)".

The SI is defined as the average time between successive infections in a chain of transmission (i.e., the time between the infection of an infected individual and their subsequent transmissions).