Chris Cuomo tests negative for coronavirus, has 'both antibodies'
Chris Cuomo announced he has tested negative for COVID-19, four weeks after contracting the coronavirus. The CNN anchor also shared on Monday's Cuomo Prime Time he has "both antibodies," but wondered what that means exactly.
"Is this good news or not? I thought I was going to have this big, great news after all the bad news I've given you about me and my family," he explained.
Cuomo's wife, Cristina, and their 14-year-old son also battled the virus.
"I tested negative. I have both antibodies: The short-term one and the long-term one. So I'm lucky, right? Or not?" Cuomo pondered. "We don't know what the antibodies mean, if they mean anything."
To get some answers, he invited Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the show to help explain what is known about having antibodies and COVID-19 immunity.
"Presumably, you're going to have some protection against this. I think that's what most virologists will say, that's what your friend, Dr. Anthony Fauci, says as well," Dr. Gupta shared. "The thing is that we need to prove it out and that takes some time to actually show that these antibodies are actually going to protect you."
Dr. Gupta explained Cuomo's antibodies will be put "in a test tube with some of the virus and they basically see do your antibodies neutralize the virus."
"Presumably there should be some neutralizing activity, but it may be different person to person," he noted.
Dr. Gupta added "there's been some evidence recently" that suggests the strength of a person's antibodies may correlate to the severity of their illness.
"People who have had more significant illness may have antibodies with more neutralizing activity," he continued. "But again, we have to prove this out."
More testing needs to be done and the World Health Organization urged people who have had the coronavirus not to assume they are immune to COVID-19. "There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection," the WHO said Friday.
Dr. Gupta acknowledged more testing needs to be done, but that "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." He also said it's unknown how long someone might be protected against the virus if antibodies do provide some immunity.
Cuomo, who quarantined in the basement, reunited with his family on April 20 for the first time in three weeks.
"We’re still taking it slow. We’re not all hugging up and kissing and all that stuff," Cuomo said last week. "But the kids, back in the picture. We’re figuring out our family gesture. We may go like this [makes hand gesture], or something like that. A little air kiss. But this is what I’ve been dreaming weeks for."
Cuomo’s wife contracted the virus as well, but her symptoms were less severe and she isolated for one week. Cristina revealed on Wednesday their son, Mario, came down with the illness and couldn’t taste or smell. The couple share two other children, daughters Bella, 17, and Carolina, 11, who have stayed healthy thus far.
The CDC just added six new possible coronavirus symptoms, including loss of taste or smell.
For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDC’s and WHO’s resource guides.
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