Monoclonal antibody treatment site opens at Naples Beach Hotel

A new antibody treatment site had its scheduled soft opening at the Naples Beach Hotel on Thursday morning to help COVID-19 patients in the early stages. It is not yet listed among the state’s monoclonal treatment facilities online, but the sign-up process is already known.

Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann and the Naples City Council say there are still some issues with the site’s location.

Collier County’s Office of Emergency Management was tasked with finding a location after Gov. Ron DeSantis came to the county and promised a new Regeneron monoclonal treatment site was coming. After an 11-day search, the Naples Beach Hotel at 851 Gulfshore Blvd. N. was determined the best fit for its ample parking and treatment space, as well as its distance from other businesses. But the location comes with other possible complications.

“It’s transparency at the beginning and not knowing how it’s going to operate, what the impact would be on our residents or the commercial area that’s in; the residents weren’t informed and then all of a sudden it’s like a pop up site,” Heitmann said.

City leaders are also concerned because they say the site is not central to the county and they would have liked to be a part of the decision-making process.

People who visited the site on Thursday said it was quick and convenient.

Melinda Dwyer said, “We walked right in and just filled out the paperwork and went right back. They give it to you and then you just have to wait an hour.”

The site only administers the treatment via a shot and not through an IV.

While this site is not yet listed as a treatment center on the Florida Department of Health website, here’s how you will make an appointment once it is:

• Go to floridahealthcovid19.gov and see a list of three options on the top of the screen.
• Select “Make an MAB appointment”
• Create an account.
• Select get regen-COV.
• Register your visit
• Present your code at the treatment site.