People with more viruses hiding in their noses also spread COVID. According to the study, people with a lower virus load have only one in eight chances of transmitting the virus to someone they come in contact with. However, those with a higher virus load have one in four chances of infecting contacts. According to researchers, the results of the study indicated ‘that the virus load, rather than symptoms, may be the predominant cause of the transmission.’
Study co-author Michael Marks, PhD, associate professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told Gothamist: “Intuitively, even if you know nothing about virology or epidemiology, it would make sense. There are a lot of viruses in my nose and throat. there are many viruses in the air that I cough out or breathe. ‘And if you have these four symptoms, you may have the new COVID voltage.