Early in the Epidemic: Impact of Preprints on Global Discourse of 2019-nCoV Transmissibility.

As of February 11, 2020, more than 43,000 cases of a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) have been reported worldwide. Using publicly available data regarding the transmissibility potential (i.e. basic reproduction number) of 2019-nCoV, we demonstrate that relevant preprint studies generated considerable search and news media interest prior to the publication of peer-reviewed studies in the same topic area. We then show that preprint estimate ranges for the basic reproduction number associated with 2019-nCoV overlap with those presented by peer-reviewed studies that were published at a later date. Taken together, we argue that preprints are capable of driving global discourse during public health crises; however, we recommend that a consensus-based approach - as we have employed here - be considered as a means of assessing the robustness of preprint findings prior to peer review.