The reason for lower COVID-19 hospitalizations

The reason there are fewer South Carolina hospital admissions for COVID is partly because of the priority given to high-risk individuals in the state’s vaccination plan as well as the monoclonal antibody program, DHEC announced today.  While the antibody treatments are currently approved for emergency use only, data show they help reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits.  Due to monoclonal antibody treatments, DHEC estimates, well more than 1,000 hospital admissions have been avoided and more than 100 COVID-related deaths have been prevented.  Monoclonal antibodies are a treatment that doctors have used for COVID patients since November, when the FDA issued emergency use authorizations.  The treatment is a single-dose IV infusion, meaning the patient receives their full dose in one sitting.