Ask HN: Can we stop Coronavirus if enough people volunteer to catch it?

2 pointsshakiba6y ago7 comments

A virus would stop spreading in community if 40%-60% of people are immune, for example by catching it and producing antibody. So a radical approach would be to have people who are more likely to survive volunteer to catch it in quarantine and under care.

It would make volunteers immune so that they can get back to life and work without worry and will stop the virus from hitting more vulnerable groups.

7 comments

eth0up6y ago

I just listened to a BBC interview with a passenger on the quarantined Diamond Princess. She commented that within a month, covid will probably have spread to every city and household in the US. As a gornisht, I generally concur. As /usr/detaro mentioned, there do seem to be significant complications with covid. I just read a disturbing 'testimony' from a doctor at the front line in Italy[0] which would appear to advise against such a plan, and also notes the severity of the virus, which is not at all normal, it seems.

I think there will be no easy answers or solutions.

0. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22520562

You might also consider the Chinese doctor largely responsible for initiating action and informing the public. He died, helping others. Repeat exposure might not have helped.

eth0up6y ago

I may have confused "Diamond" with "Grand" when referencing the quarantined ship.

detaro6y ago

It's far from clear that having it actually provides reliable immunization.

gus_massa6y ago

I guess it provide immunization because it's very similar to what happens with a cold, but IANAMD. And this guy "Dr. Anthony Fauci" agree with me https://www.uchealth.org/today/what-you-should-know-about-co... (I'd like to have a direct citation.)

The main problem is that a small amount of the 40%-60% (I'd prefer more, like 70%) of the population will have complications (because they have an undiscover heart problem? they lie in the interview? bad luck?). And some of them will die (perhaps even for unrelated problem). And it doesn't matter how much paperwork they signed, the family will sue you and the press will fall over you.

(And probably the 40%-60% (70%) will not include children and it will propagate in schools, and also not include old people and it will propagate in geriatrics.)

detaro6y ago

I think I remembered this report about people potentially getting infected repeatedly: https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-coronavirus-risk-of-re...

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WheelsAtLarge6y ago

The big problem seems to be,in addition to a 3%+death rate, that at least 10% of the people that show symptoms will end up in the hospital. There's a point where the medical system will start to fail. The goal should be to minimize exposure and hope for a fast vaccine development.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

7 comments

eth0up6y ago

I think there will be no easy answers or solutions.

0. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22520562

You might also consider the Chinese doctor largely responsible for initiating action and informing the public. He died, helping others. Repeat exposure might not have helped.

eth0up6y ago

I may have confused "Diamond" with "Grand" when referencing the quarantined ship.

detaro6y ago

It's far from clear that having it actually provides reliable immunization.

gus_massa6y ago

(And probably the 40%-60% (70%) will not include children and it will propagate in schools, and also not include old people and it will propagate in geriatrics.)

detaro6y ago

I think I remembered this report about people potentially getting infected repeatedly: https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-coronavirus-risk-of-re...

1 more reply

WheelsAtLarge6y ago

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse