"The virus replication cycle generates new viral genomes and proteins in sufficient quantities to ensure propagation of the viral genome"
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/virus-replication
"Viral load -- the amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus found in a test sample -- is not an indicator of how contagious an individual is, though early research suggests it could play a role in disease severity and secondary transmission."
https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/health/2021/jul/01/covid-19-vaccines-reduce-severity-symptoms-and-viral-load-in-re-infected-people-study-2324051.html
"Measuring the viral load of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 is one of the main factors in evaluating the infectiousness of COVID-19 patients."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220414110836.htm
"Antiviral medicines work differently depending on the drug and virus type. Antivirals can:
Block receptors so viruses can’t bind to and enter healthy cells.
Boost the immune system, helping it fight off a viral infection.
**Lower the viral load (amount of active virus) in the body**."
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/21531-antivirals
"Antiviral drugs do not directly destroy the virus but work by preventing the infection process. As viruses need to infect and replicate in host cells to survive, preventing this process allows antiviral medications to combat viruses. An antiviral drug can do this in several ways:
Blocking infection: Viruses cannot replicate without a host cell. Some antiviral drugs work by tricking the virus into attaching to them rather than a human cell. Without a human cell, the virus cannot replicate, so it dies.
Interrupting replication: Once a virus enters a host cell, it begins to replicate. Some antiviral drugs disrupt the replication process within the cell, reducing the severity of symptoms and possibly speeding recovery.
Preventing spread: After replication, the virus particles enter the bloodstream. **Some antiviral drugs work by preventing the release of these viral copies into the bloodstream, which reduces the spread of the infection**."
"Antiviral substances work to inhibit viral activity by preventing the virus from developing, replicating, and spreading."
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/antiviral#summary