Chris Cuomo says he's officially tested negative for coronavirus, has 'both antibodies'

Chris Cuomo announced he has officially tested negative for coronavirus and has "both antibodies" after contracting the virus nearly a month ago.

The CNN anchor, who has been vocal about his battle with the illness since announcing his diagnosis, shared the news Monday night on "Cuomo Prime Time" in a segment with Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaking down what it may mean to test positive for coronavirus antibodies.

"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," Cuomo wondered. "I tested negative. I have both antibodies: The short-term one and the long-term one. So I'm lucky, right?"

Cuomo did not specify when he tested negative, but added he "cleared the CDC threshold a while ago" and got his test back "weeks later." On April 20, he shared an un-dated video of his "official re-entry" to the main floor of his home after staying isolated in his basement.

"Presumably, you're going to have some protection against this," Gupta told him. "I think that's what most virologists will say, that's what your friend, Dr. Anthony Fauci says as well. The thing is we need to prove it and that takes some time to actually show that these antibodies are actually going to protect you."

Gupta explained that the process involves testing the antibodies in a test tube against the novel coronavirus to be able to confirm whether or not they're able to "neutralize the virus." Some recent studies have indicated there may be a correlation between the severity of a person's illness and the strength of their antibodies, but a few cases in China have showed people testing positive without developing antibodies.

The World Health Organization issued a statement Friday saying that antibody tests "need further validation to determine their accuracy and reliability" and that evidence currently doesn't support the idea that people who have antibodies are "protected" from getting COVID-19 again.

"It's the neutralizing activity of the antibodies that you're really looking for," Gupta added. "There should be some neutralizing activity, but it may be different person to person."

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The Cuomo family has been hit hard by the coronavirus: First with Chris testing positive, then wife Cristina and recently their 14-year-old son, Mario. The couple share two other children: 17-year-old Bella and 11-year-old Carolina.

"Here's what I know," Cuomo concluded. "If they want my blood, and I'm being told they do next week, I have never given blood in my life and we both know why: It's because I'm a wuss. But I am going to do it, although the likelihood I faint is like, 110%. But I'm going to do it, I'm going to shoot it. If they want the blood, I'm going to give it to them because that is the best thing I've heard of so far in terms of what I can do to help as someone who was sick."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Chris Cuomo says he tested negative, has both antibodies