"Why Some People Don't Catch COVID Even When Their Close Contacts Do"

Not everyone living with a COVID-19 infected person will necessarily catch the virus due to various factors. These include the contagious stages of the virus, the immune system's ability to fight off the pathogen, the amount of virus one is exposed to, and the use of preventative measures like ventilation and masks. Vaccination and prior exposure can prime the immune system, reducing the likelihood of infection. Superspreaders and individual differences in viral shedding also play a role in transmission dynamics. While it's possible to avoid infection even with close contact, it's important to remember that COVID-19 is still highly contagious.