A photo showing COVID-19 patients lying on the floor of a Florida library awaiting antibody treatment is online. Now the library is asking people not to sit down.

• A photo released online last week shows COVID-19 patients lying on the floor awaiting monoclonal antibody treatment at a library in Florida.

• Officials said they don’t have enough wheelchairs to help all waiting patients, but have now increased their supply.

• The library has since installed signs that read, “Please do not sit or lie on the floor. If you require immediate medical attention, please alert a member of staff. “

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A photo showing COVID-19 patients lying on the floor of a Florida library awaiting antibody treatment was uploaded last week, and now the library is asking people not to sit on the floor.

The photo, taken by Louie Lopez at the main public library in Jacksonville, Fla., Last week showed two people lying on the floor outside the monoclonal antibody treatment room.

Lopez told Jacksonville.com that there were only a few chairs available, and said staff did not immediately attend to people who were lying, “sick and moaning.”

After the photo was uploaded, staff put up signs saying, “Please do not sit or lie on the floor. If you need immediate medical attention, please alert a staff member.”

Nikki Kimbleton, director of communications / public affairs for Jacksonville, told First Coast News that the number of patients had increased last week and that the center did not have enough wheelchairs to help all sick patients.

She told the outlet that the city “is now providing triple the number of wheelchairs, additional seats for those in line, and signage that tells patients to alert someone if they need help. aid”.

The library hosts a state-run, city-supported monoclonal antibody treatment center to treat patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

The treatment has been shown to be effective against the virus, but it cannot be used as a replacement for a vaccine.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been a big supporter of Regeneron – one of the antibody treatments – in recent weeks, but has come under criticism after it was revealed that one of its major donors was an investor in treatment, WFLA reported.

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