NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Floridians in Pasco County who have recovered from COVID because they received monoclonal therapies, including Congressman Gus Bilirakis and Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson. Florida now has 25 state-run monoclonal antibody treatment sites.

Hear directly from monoclonal antibody recipients about their experience with the therapy…

Congressman Gus Bilirakis, representing Florida’s 12th congressional district, said, “I have diabetes and heart disease, so I always knew I was high risk. I tested positive for COVID in January, and I had flu like symptoms. When I thought about my kids, I decided not to take any chances and to get monoclonal antibodies – this is good stuff. Within 24 hours of treatment I felt great, and I’ve seen people get better within five hours of treatment. Awareness is key, and we’re going to save lives with this.”

Senate President Wilton Simpson said, “I had COVID in December, and I had a fever and chills. My doctor gave me this treatment and said, ‘24 hours from now you’re going to feel like a new person,’ and sure enough by then my symptoms had gone away. The monoclonal antibodies treatment is very effective, and if you do this you will probably save yourself a hospital stay. The Governor has made this such a big issue in Florida, and in bringing attention to this we’ve seen deaths and hospital stays decline.”

Ben Birge, a K9 Sergeant and SWAT team leader at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, said, “I got my positive test and was fluctuating between a 101 degree and 102 degree fever. My body aches made me unable to move. Two days later I was able to receive the treatment. At the site the employees were the most professional and efficient people I’ve ever had the pleasure of dealing with. It helped me bounce back, and by the next morning felt like a million dollars. I soon tested negative, and was back to work the following Tuesday, to perform the demanding things that we do in my profession. I can’t thank the program, the people, and the Governor enough for what it meant to me, my family, and my team.”

Kyle Hatfield, who has contracted COVID twice and used monoclonals to assist with his second recovery, said, “In my recent experience, my symptoms began with a sore throat and a slight fever, and quickly my test came back positive. I had no idea what the treatment was and had not heard about it until my wife shared articles and informational videos with me. Getting the Regeneron treatment was a simple process. I expected to be a little bit more stressful with the surge in cases and knowing that healthcare workers are working tirelessly. I received the injections, stayed for an hour, and was done before 9:45 a.m. After the treatment, I felt better and back to normal by the next day…I have been sharing my experience with people I know who are concerned about getting sick and those I know who recently tested positive, and I know they’re looking forward to bouncing back just as I did.”

Previously opened State of Florida monoclonal antibody sites are located at:

Alachua County
Fellowship Church
16916 Northwest U.S. Highway 441
High Springs, Florida 32643
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Bay County
Bay County Fairgrounds
2230 East 15th Street
Panama City, Florida 32405
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Brevard County
Kiwanis Island Park
951 Kiwanis Island Park Road
Merritt Island, Florida 32952
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Broward County
C.B. Smith Park
900 North Flamingo Road
Pembroke Pines, Florida 33028
Hours: 7 days a week; 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Charlotte County
Tringali Community Center
3460 North Access Road
Englewood, Florida 34224
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Collier County
Old Dollar General
1500 Lake Trafford Road
Immokalee, Florida 34142
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Duval County
Jacksonville Public Library
304 North Main Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Escambia County 
Bayview Community Center
2001 East Lloyd Street
Pensacola, Florida 32503
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Flagler County
Daytona State College
Building 3
3000 Palm Coast Parkway Southeast
Palm Coast, Florida 32137
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Highlands County
Highlands County Agri-Civic Center
4509 George Boulevard
Sebring, Florida 33875
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Hillsborough County
Kings Forest Park
8008 East Chelsea Street
Tampa, Florida 33610
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Lee County
Old Bonita Springs Library
26876 Pine Avenue
Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Leon County
Vacant Sears
1500 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Manatee County
Manatee Memorial Hospital Complex
206 2nd Street East
Bradenton, Florida 34208
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Miami-Dade County
Tropical Park
7900 Southwest 40 Street
Miami, Florida 33155
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Okaloosa County
Northwest Florida Fairgrounds
1958 Lewis Turner Boulevard
Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32547
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Orange County
Camping World Stadium
1 Citrus Bowl Place
Orlando, Florida 32805
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Osceola County 
St. Cloud Community Center
3101 17th Street
St. Cloud, Florida 34769
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Palm Beach County
West Gate Park
3691 Oswego Avenue
West Palm Beach, Florida 33409
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Pasco County
Fasano Center
11611 Denton Avenue
Hudson, Florida 34667
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m.

Pinellas County
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
409 South Old Coachman Road
Clearwater, Florida 33765
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Polk County
Church at the Mall
1010 East Memorial Boulevard
Lakeland, Florida 33801
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

St. Lucie County
Havert L. Fenn Center
2000 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce, Florida 34982
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sumter County
Barnstorm Theater
2720 Brownwood Boulevard
The Villages, Florida 32163
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Volusia County
Ormond Beach Senior Center
351 Andrews Street
Ormond Beach, Florida 32174
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

To find locations to receive monoclonal antibody treatments around the entire state, please visit floridahealthcovid19.gov.

###