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FOR BEFORE THEY MAKE THAT DECISION. MARISSA: THE CDC WILL LOOK AT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS TO DETERMINE IF A PATIENT HAS RECOVERED, AND OUR STATE ALSO FOLLOWS THOSE GUIDELINES. SOME RELIEF FOR NEW MEXICO. AS OF RIGHT NOW, 133 PEOPLE HAVE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19. >> THE TWO CRITERIA THAT ARE USED, ONE IS SYMPTOM BASED, THE OTHER IS TESTING BASED. MARISSA: THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION CONSIDERS A COVID-19 PATIENT RECOVERED IF THEY’VE, ONE, BEEN SYMPTOM-FREE FOR 72 HOURS OR, IF THE PATIENT HAS RECEIVED TWO NEGATIVE TESTS. KOAT’S DOCTOR BARRY RAMO SAYS THE CDC’S CRITERIA IS PRETTY BROAD. >> IT IS OK FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SET THEIR OWN STANDARDS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CRITERIA BEING ESTABLISHED ALL OVER THE WORLD, IT’S A CHANGING ONE. IN SOME PLACES, IT REALLY IS A MUCH LONGER PERIOD THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO BE FREE OF SYMPTOMS. MARISSA: ON TOP OF FOLLOWING THOSE CDC GUIDELINES, NEW MEXICO HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE ALSO LOOKING AT DIFFERENT FACTORS FOR EACH PATIENT’S INDIVIDUAL SITUATION, TO DETERMINE IF THEY’VE HIT RECOVERY. >> THIS IS A MOVING TARGET AND WE’RE LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT HOW LONG THE VIRUS IS STAYING IN THE SYSTEM. MARISSA: RAMO SAYS WHILE A PATIENT WOULD TECHNICALLY BE IN THE CLEAR BY MEETING THOSE CDC STANDARDS, THOSE YOU’VE HAD THE VIRUS SHOULD BE CAREFUL. >> I THINK I’D CONTINUE TO BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS ABOUT EXPOSING ANYBODY ELSE IF YOU’VE HAD THE INFECTION, AT LEAST FOR 14 DAYS. MARISSA: DR. RAMO SAID THAT WITH MORE RAPID TESTING BEING APPROVED, THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO FIND OUT WHO HAS RECOVERED A LOT FASTER AND WHO HAS ANTIBODIES TO HELP FIGHT THE VIRUS. MARISSA ARMAS, KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. BRITTANY: DR. RAMO SAYS

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Day after day, health experts are learning more about COVID-19 and also what it takes to reach a full recovery.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers a positive patient recovered if they've, one, been symptom-free for 72 hours or two, if the patient has received two negative tests. KOAT's Dr. Barry Ramo said, the CDC's criteria is pretty broad. "It is OK for local governments to set their own standards," Ramo said. "If you look at the criteria being established all over the world it's a changing one. In some places it really is a much longer period that people have to be free of symptoms."Monday New Mexico received some relief, as the New Mexico Department of Health announced the state has reached 133 recovered cases. Not only does the state health department follow the CDC's two guidelines, it also looks at other factors for each patient's individual situation to determine if they've hit recovery."This is a moving target and we're learning more and more about how long the virus is staying in the system," Ramo said. Ramo said while a patient would technically be in the clear by meeting those standards, those you've had the virus should be careful. He also said that with more rapid testing being approved, this is going to allow health officials to determine who has recovered a lot faster and who has antibodies to help fight the virus. "I think I'd continue to be extremely cautious about exposing anybody else if you've had the infection ... at least for 14 days," Ramo said. For more information on recovery, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html