Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, it's the value of the exponent that I am talking about. Smaller is, uh, exponentially, better than larger. (I'm being sarcastic, but changing the exponent is (literally) what all the public health messaging about flattening the curve is about)
(to be completely pedantic, flattening the curve is about changing the base. The exponent is time.)
Community mitigation changes the rate.