[EvaH (OP)]

Steve asks:

It's been proposed that people can get really bad covid symptoms from a massive viral load which makes me think that sheltering at home for weeks/months could be counterproductive as the first time you venture and experience the virus it might affect you greatly, and that the people that have been out more might have built up some resistance. Think for how alcohol might affect a non-drinker compared to a regular drinker. Any thoughts?

What do you think?

[Bored chemist]

You can't "build up resistance to" a virus before the first time you encounter it.
(Other than by vaccination, obviously).

[set fair]

It is possible (but unproven) that your first exposure is to such a low dose that you don't become infected but do produce an immune response - perhaps making specific t-cells. Then repeated you could end up with enough of an immune response that when you get infected with a full dose, you are less likely to get seriously ill. But staying home would not make it more likely that your first exposure would be to a high dose.

[set fair]

Steve asks:
It's been proposed that people can get really bad covid symptoms from a massive viral load

The viral load is a measure of the amount of virus in your body. So I'm not sure exactly what you mean.

[charles1948]

Steve asks:

It's been proposed that people can get really bad covid symptoms from a massive viral load which makes me think that sheltering at home for weeks/months could be counterproductive as the first time you venture and experience the virus it might affect you greatly, and that the people that have been out more might have built up some resistance. Think for how alcohol might affect a non-drinker compared to a regular drinker. Any thoughts?

What do you think?

I think that drinking alcohol regularly, may help ward off the virus.  Because the virus doesn't like alcohol.  Isn't that why "hand sanitizers" contain alcohol.  It kills the virus. So if you have alcohol in your body, it will kill the virus.

On the subject of smoking.  I think this also may help to protect against the virus. Because if your lungs are gnarled, blackened, and pitted from years of cigarette smoking, they will offer a less hospitable environment for the virus.

The virus wants young, pink, healthy lungs.  To infest and thrive in.  It can't thrive in black smoked lungs.

This is how I reason.   Do you dispute my reasoning?

[Petrochemicals]

A small dose seems to be beneficial as compared to a great thumping  infusion if we go by the cases of overworked doctors and bus drivers who have succumbed . But that is counter to your point of staying home. If you venture out on busses all day you will surely have a greater viral load when infected versus popping out once in a while in a guarded manner.

Your question seems to be asking is a small exposure to the virus favourable in the long run, once you get it you get it, so isolation is not the problem. If however you spent your life in a sterile environment and where released into the population you would have no natural immunity to most viruses or bacteria. Your immune system may also be out of practice.

[evan_au]

I think that drinking alcohol regularly, may help ward off the virus.  Isn't that why "hand sanitizers" contain alcohol.  It kills the virus.

You have been paying too much attention to Donald Trump.

Effective hand sanitizers have > 70% alcohol content.
- Alcohol intoxication is fatal when the alcohol content in your bloodstream is > 1%. This would not kill the virus, but would kill the patient.
- Most people catch SARS-COV2 via their lungs. Pouring the alcohol into your lungs will immediately tell you why this is a bad idea.

On the subject of smoking.  I think this also may help to protect against the virus. Because if your lungs are gnarled, blackened, and pitted from years of cigarette smoking, they will offer a less hospitable environment for the virus.

- One of the things that proves lethal in COVID-19 is an inability to get enough oxygen through the scarred lungs.
- If you already have scarred lungs with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or other chronic diseases, you will die sooner.

Do you dispute my reasoning?

Yes, I don't think you are reasoning at all.
I think you are trolling.

[vhfpmr]

staying home would not make it more likely that your first exposure would be to a high dose

But it would mean fewer repetitions.