Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor, holds a press conference in Orlando to announce the establishment of a monoclonal anti-body treatment site for COVID-19 patients at Camping World Stadium. LightRocket
Florida and Texas have opened free monoclonal antibody clinics to treat Covid-19 patients. This is in response to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in both states. The centers are free and open to all. Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas will open nine infusion centers for antibody treatment. Greg Abbott made the announcement Friday while Florida opened its fifth site Wednesday. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, Texas has filled more than 46% of its ICU beds and half of Florida's ICU capacity with coronavirus patients, up from 27% nationally. Inflammation is what puts you in the hospital. Inflammation in the lungs is a common problem," Dr. Arturo Casadevall of Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health spoke to CNBC. These antibodies work by neutralizing the virus if given to patients early. Abbott has already had firsthand experience with this treatment. After he was positive for Covid, his office announced Tuesday that he will be receiving Regeneron's monoclonal anti-viral treatment. Monoclonal antibodies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Regeneron are proven to reduce hospitalizations and fight the virus. However, they have rarely been used during the pandemic. Monoclonal antibody treatments must be administered via IV infusion. This takes time and dedication from medical staff.
In November, the Food and Drug Administration gave Regeneron's treatment an Emergency Use Authorization. It stated that it decreased Covid hospitalizations in patients at high risk of disease progression within 28 day. GlaxoSmithKline has just received emergency approval for its treatment using Vir Biotechnology. It said that it decreased hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients by approximately 85%. Both companies were cleared by the FDA to use their treatments in patients 12 years and older. "Many patients who are evaluated by their physicians and referred for a monoclonal antibodies infusion have a decreased chance of being hospitalized," Teresa Farfn (spokeswoman for Texas Division of Emergency Management) said in an email to CNBC. This helps ensure that hospitals have the resources they need to treat the most severe cases. As the number of cases in Florida from the delta variant continues to rise, it was imperative that treatment centers be established as soon as possible. According to data from Hopkins, CNBC recently reported that the state had a record-breaking seven-day average of almost 21,700 new infections. This is 12.6% higher than a week ago. Texas is getting closer to the record of nearly 23,000 cases per day in January. Texas reported a week-to-week average of just over 15,400 infections, an increase from the average of 3,000 infections a month ago. Christina Pushaw spokeswoman for Florida Governor, said that "both monoclonals as well as vaccines save lives." Ron DeSantis stated in an email to CNBC that "they are certainly not mutually exempt." As of Thursday, more than 34% of Florida’s 50,706 hospital inpatients are coronavirus-positive, and over 25% of Texas' 513,337 inpatients are, according to HHS. Abbott asked for 2,500 health care workers from all over the country to fight the virus. He also requested that hospitals delay elective procedures to increase their capacity.
After a press conference, a box and vial of Regeneron monoclonal antibodies are seen at the new COVID-19 treatment location opened by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in Orlando at Camping World Stadium. LightRocket
