Similar aerosol emission rates and viral loads in upper respiratory tracts for COVID-19 patients with Delta and Omicron variant infection

Virol Sin. 2022 Oct;37(5):762-764. doi: 10.1016/j.virs.2022.07.010. Epub 2022 Aug 1.

¹ Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences in Beijing, Beijing 100071, China.
² Xiamen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen 361021, China.
³ Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences in Beijing, Beijing 100071, China. Electronic address: 13693506666@163.com.
⁴ Xiamen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen 361021, China. Electronic address: zhengjing1103@foxmail.com.
⁵ Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences in Beijing, Beijing 100071, China. Electronic address: zhongyi_wang@foxmail.com.

Abstract

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Aerosol emission rates of Delta or Omicron patients were similar.
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Viral loads in upper respiratory tract of Alpha, Delta and Omicron patients were similar.
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Viral loads in upper respiratory tract of vaccinated or unvaccinated Delta patients had no difference.