yes, that gene deletion means CCR5 is non functional. It doesn't work.
So if LL binds to it, it can do so, but that binding accomplishes nothing.

It is as if the patient has no CCR5 at all. If the disease requires CCR5 to propagate, then it won't. That is why patient's with the gene deletion don't get HIV, because HIV depends on CCR5.

If long haulers depends on CCR5, then long haulers wouldn't be all that bad in a patient with the deletion. The disease could come on in a much weaker form, but had the patient had the normal CCR5, the disease would have come on much stronger.

So if long haulers depends on CCR5, like we believe, and if some patients with the gene deletion were placed into the placebo group, they would appear to do better without any medication, but that would be because they have the deletion.

If the same patient with the gene deletion is placed into the LL arm, LL does nothing because CCR5 is inactive, so it makes it look like LL is not working.

That's why what ohm is suggesting is necessary.