With reports that a Revelstoke family was looking for someone to infect them with COVID-19, the Chief Medical Health Officer in Interior Health says trying to intentionally get sick to build natural immunity is a bad idea.

Dr. Albert de Villiers says there a number of issues with that line of thought including the fact that health officials don’t know how some people will react to the virus.

“I mean it is true most people will have a relatively mild form of the disease, they’ll be out for a day or two or three maybe, but there are people – and even relatively healthy people that can develop complications,” he said.

“We’ve had people throughout Canada of all ages pass away. There was one in the media – I think last week or the weekend – where a child under 10 passed away in Manitoba, so I don’t think we want to put anybody at risk unnecessarily, so definitely not a good idea.”

The now-deleted post appeared on a Craigslist-type website classified advertising website, The Stoke.

“We are a healthy family and we would like to safely expose ourselves to the virus, to help build our natural immunity,” the ad said. “We can house you for a night or however long it takes, and will provide all of your meals.”

It went on to say that the family in question was unsuccessful in a previous attempt to try and contract the virus.

“Any suggestions on the easiest way to transmit the virus? We were unsuccessful in transmission with our first COVID-19 guest,” the post noted. “[We] are assuming we will have to use saliva directly… but hoping to not go down this path.”

Revelstoke is dealing with a cluster of cases that at the last update yesterday had seen 46 cases which the Premier says is linked to non-essential recreational travel. Dr. de Villiers meanwhile says there is no one specific incident that has led to the cluster.

“And even if you might have [COVID] mildly as a person, if you are in contact with somebody else – unknowingly sometimes – who is at a higher risk, you might give the disease to them as well and you don’t want that on your conscience,” de Villiers added.

Revelstoke Mayor Gary Sulz says to see posts on social media like the one from the unnamed family is concerning.

“People you are playing with a loaded gun and that loaded gun may not be pointed at you, but it may be pointed at your family or the people out in the community,” he said as other local Revelstoke leaders tell NL News the small resort municipality is being challenged as businesses and residents try to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Yesterday, Sulz also warned against non-essential travel to his community saying he doesn’t want the virus to spread to other parts of British Columbia.

“We’ll love to welcome you back to the community once this crisis has passed,” he added.