Viral Photo Shows Extremely Ill COVID-19 Patients Lying On Floor, Waiting For Treatment

KEY POINTS

An official said the photo was taken at the time when all wheelchairs were in use
The state is waiting for more wheelchairs and additional seating
Florida has reported a 12.6% increase in caseload

A viral photo posted on a social media platform shows patients with COVID-19 lying on the floor while waiting for treatment.

In a Reddit post uploaded Wednesday, two people were seen lying on the ground at the Jacksonville Main Library Conference Center while waiting to receive monoclonal therapy, an antibody treatment used on people with mild to moderate COVID-19.

“Everyone please be careful - whether you are vaccinated or not. My husband (vaccinated, but positive) has been waiting 2+ hours for monoclonal therapy and he says he has never seen people so sick. Moaning, crying, unable to move,” the post read.

Nikki Kimbleton, director of communications and public affairs for Jacksonville, later confirmed the authenticity of the post. In a statement, the city official said that, at the time the photograph was taken, all available wheelchairs at the facility were in use. She added that the state has now ordered more wheelchairs to meet the demand.

“In order to support the State of Florida in their efforts to provide this important treatment (that they’ve contracted out to CDR Maguire), JFRD and COJ are providing triple the number of wheelchairs, additional seating for those waiting in line, and signage that directs patients to alert someone if they need any type of assistance," the statement read, according to The Florida Times-Union.

The health official also emphasized that the treatment is only designed for people who fear they may have been infected with COVID-19 or those in the early stages of their diagnosis.

“Individuals with severe symptoms should contact a medical professional for guidance on the proper treatment for their situation,” Kimbleton added.

The Reddit post, which has earned more than 390 comments and 1,100 “up votes” since it was posted on the platform, comes as the highly contagious Delta variant pushes Florida’s seven-day average of caseloads to 21,700, according to data from Aug. 13. The state of Florida discloses the number of its COVID-19 cases once a week on Fridays.

The latest figures showed a 12.6% increase from the total caseload recorded the week before, according to a CNBC analysis.

As of Thursday, the HHS estimated that 34% of the state’s 50,706 hospitalized patients are infected with COVID-19.