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Comment by nicoburns | Hacker News Reader

> from anyone who wasn't tested negative a couple of hours ago

A test a couple of hours ago may not count for much depending on what they've been doing in the last few days as the tests don't pick up infections for 2-10 after contact, and you may be infectious before the tests pick up the disease.

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right. we can't figure out the testing status of strangers anyways, so it's the optimal strategy to avoid contact with people as much as possible. F.e. I do the following:

- do the groceries before 8a.m.

- avoid public transport

- don't visit crowded public places

- wearing a mask everywhere except of home

You're essentially trying to tank your immune system by doing this. Unless you're especially in danger from Covid (maybe like the professor in this video) you shouldn't avoid training your immune system by exposing it to the outside world unless you want to get very sick when the virus finally does find you.

Obviously it should be done within reason, please don't swim in radioactive waste.

if anything I already went through COVID and my immune system easily beat it because I took care of it all these years by eating healthy food, sleeping well, exercising a lot, etc.. but I don't want to expose it to the virus just because it can beat it again. enough is enough.

For many/most others, they're saying enough is enough regarding mandates.

The parent has a good point that it may not be an optimal strategy the avoid all contact. This is because - so long as it is not overwhelmed - your immune system is strengthened and immunity boosted by contact with pathogens. If you already have immunity provided by a prior infection or vaccination and you are otherwise healthy, then it may make sense to maintain that immunity by continued contact with the virus.

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