Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday the opening of a new monoclonal antibody treatment center at Camping World Stadium in Orlando to help COVID-19 patients recover.
“Expanding access to this treatment will help our most vulnerable stay out of the hospital and save lives,” according to DeSantis.
As of today, the Camping World Stadium in Orlando will serve as a monoclonal antibody treatment site, open 7 days a week, with a capacity of 320 patients a day.
Expanding access to this treatment will help our most vulnerable stay out of the hospital and save lives. pic.twitter.com/jGl1ClSj6k
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 16, 2021
Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful antigens such as viruses, according to the FDA.
DeSantis said that when COVID-19 symptoms first surface, monoclonal antibody treatments like Regeneron have proven to “radically reduce” the chance of hospitalizations…and it’s free.
“At the end of the day, reducing hospital admissions has gotta be a top priority,” DeSantis said. “People don’t go the hospital to begin with, they’re gonna recover.”
The governor said the Camping World Stadium site can treat up to 320 patients a day seven days a week. He added that more monoclonal antibody treatment centers are being planned throughout the state.
“This something that really, if done early, can make a big difference,” DeSantis said. “That’s really the key. Early intervention.”
Last week, Florida rolled out a rapid response mobile unit in Jacksonville to deliver monoclonal antibody treatments to COVID positive people suffering serious symptoms.