Final answer:
The process described in the question is called latency, where a virus remains hidden or dormant inside a cell without producing new virions. Examples include the herpes simplex virus in humans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process described in the question is called latency. Latency is when a virus remains hidden or dormant inside a cell, causing a latent infection. During latency, the virus does not produce new virions and can stay in the cell for a long period of time without causing symptoms.
For example, the herpes simplex virus, which causes herpes in humans, can exist in nervous tissue for long periods of time without replicating. Periodically, it can leave latency and cause lesions in the skin where the virus replicates.
Latency is different from other modes of virus replication such as lytic replication or persistent infection.