People with more virus hiding in their nose are also significantly more likely to spread COVID. According to the study, people with a lower viral load have only a one in eight chance of passing the virus on to someone they come into contact with. However, those with a higher viral load have a one in four chance of infecting contacts. According to researchers, the results of the study indicated “that the viral load, not the symptoms, could be the predominant cause of transmission.”
Study co-author Michael Marks, PhD, an associate professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told Gothamist, “Intuitively, even if you don’t know anything about virology or epidemiology, it would make sense. There’s a lot of virus in my nose and throat. That’s why there’s lots of virus in the air that I cough out or exhale. ”And for specific symptoms to watch out for, if you have these 4 symptoms, you may have the new COVID strain.