“The study was withdrawn, so let us ignore it.”
sure!
but you did ask some questions :
“I wrote-the population was told to self-distance to save their lives, but the study group did not.””
Yes but the study group was NOT compared to the general population. the Study group (those who got HCQ) and did not self isolate where compared to a control group (those who got placebo) and did not self isolate.
(which group a person entered was completely random)
“After exposure OR after exposure and showing symptoms?
After exposure before symptoms. that is what “prophylaxis” means