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

Question

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.

eth0up · Accepted Answer

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.

detaro · Answer

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

WheelsAtLarge · Answer

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.