On Friday, the Department of Health distributed the second shipment of the investigational antiviral medication, remdesivir, to treat patients in the hospital with COVID-19.

The department sent 1,548 doses of medication Friday to 21 hospitals, and a second shipment of 6,390 doses will be distributed to 58 hospitals today.

St. Luke’s University Health Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network are using the anti-viral medicine.

Dr. Timothy Friel, Chair of the Department of Medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network, said, “Remdesivir is the first antiviral medication that has been associated with a faster recovery time in infected patients. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in multiple countries, patients who received the medication were weaned off oxygen or discharged from the hospital in an average of 11 days compared to the 15 days in patients who did not receive the medication. While mortality appeared to be less in the group that received the medication, the differences were not statistically significant.”

Friel said LVHN will be introducing this medication to our treatment protocols, giving an additional option for the management of our hospitalized patients with moderate to severe disease.

“We will continue to offer other clinical trial medications such as selinexor and tocilizumab or therapies like convalescent plasma to our sickest patients,” Friel said.

LVH-Cedar Crest, LVH-Muhlenberg and LVH-Hazleton received the drug.

“The department is working to give our hospitals every opportunity to treat patients with COVID-19,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “It is important to note that there is limited information on the safety and effectiveness of using remdesivir to treat people in the hospital with COVID-19. However, it was shown in a clinical trial to shorten the recovery time in some people, which is why the Food and Drug Administration has authorized the emergency use of the medication for treatment.”

The Department of Health first distributed 1,200 doses of the medication to 51 hospitals across Pennsylvania on May 12.

The hospitals that have received these shipments were determined based on the number of COVID-19 patients at the hospital over a recent seven-day period, and the severity of the illness of those patients based on whether they are on a ventilator. The department will continue to work with our federal partners to acquire more doses of this medication to serve more patients across Pennsylvania.

Remdesivir is given to a patient through an IV once per day for up to 10 days, depending on how critically ill the patient is. According to the FDA, remdesivir may help decrease the amount of coronavirus in your body, which may help you get better faster.

COVID-19 cases

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that there are 623 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 62,234.

The state is reporting 4,418 total deaths, an increase of 15 new deaths.

As Carbon County prepares to move into yellow phase on Friday, the county reported four new cases for a total of 214, with the death total from positive cases at 17.

There are 1,807 patients hospitalized throughout the state, with 414 on ventilators.

There are 270,670 patients who have tested negative to date.

Most of the patients hospitalized are aged 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 13,447 resident cases of COVID-19, and 2,091 cases among employees, for a total of 15,447 at 558 distinct facilities in 45 counties. Out of total deaths, 3,057 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.