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Disclaimer: At UPMC HealthBeat, we strive to provide the most up-to-date facts in our stories when we publish them. We also make updates to our content as information changes. However, education about COVID-19 can shift quickly based on new data, emerging variants, or other factors. The information in this story was accurate as of its publish date. We also encourage you to visit other reliable websites for updated information, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and your state and local governments. 

The year 2020 brought many challenges to the world. One of the biggest came from the emergence of COVID-19, the disease caused by novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

At UPMC, our greatest commitment is to our communities. During COVID-19, we are striving to provide world-class care for COVID-19 and any other medical challenges our patients face.

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UPMC Efforts During COVID-19

In addition to our clinical care, UPMC and University of Pittsburgh researchers took part in research to find treatments and cures for COVID-19.

We have provided hundreds of thousands of doses of COVID-19 vaccine to people in our communities and offered groundbreaking treatments like monoclonal antibodies.

Patient care at UPMC during COVID-19

As of March 16, 2021, UPMC had:

  • Cared for 14,602 COVID-19 inpatients across our communities. The highest number of COVID-19 inpatients we cared for in a single day was 1,218. The highest number of single-day COVID-19 inpatient discharges was 187.
  • Hosted 1.1 million outpatient telemedicine visits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we expanded our telemedicine efforts in order to meet the needs of our communities while reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread.
  • Answered 228,702 calls related to COVID-19. Our UPMC Health Plan nurses answered these calls and provided guidance.
  • Processed 212,135 COVID-19 tests at UPMC labs.

UPMC and COVID-19 research

In addition to clinical care, UPMC scientists have led and taken part in groundbreaking research related to COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.

As of March 16, 2021, UPMC had enrolled 3,285 people in clinical trials related to COVID-19. This included:

  • 2,298 people in the Pittsburgh Vaccine Trials Unit.
  • 360 people in REMAP-COVID.
  • 254 people in the Moderna vaccine trial study.
  • 200 people in the AstraZeneca vaccine trial.
  • 173 people in the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine trial.

UPMC and the COVID-19 vaccine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized or approved four COVID-19 vaccines. Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, and Novavax developed the vaccines.

Between December 2020 and March 16, 2021, UPMC administered more than 250,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

We have followed federal and state guidelines in vaccination distribution.

The number of people we vaccinate continues to grow. As of the end of March 2021, we had administered more than 300,000 doses of vaccine. For updated information on the number of vaccine doses we have given, visit UPMC.com.

Monoclonal antibodies and UPMC

The FDA issued an EUA for monoclonal antibodies as a COVID-19 treatment. At UPMC, we provide this groundbreaking treatment to people who are eligible.

As of March 16, 2021, we have delivered nearly 1,000 monoclonal antibody treatments to people who are eligible. The treatment is given shortly after infection with COVID-19. Early data showed the treatment dramatically reduced the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 in those patients.

For more information on monoclonal antibody treatments at UPMC, including who is eligible, visit UPMC.com/AntibodyTreatment.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, our top priority is to continue to protect our communities. For the latest in our efforts, visit UPMC.com/COVID19.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on , and was last reviewed on .

About UPMC

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, UPMC is a world-renowned health care provider and insurer. We operate 40 hospitals and 800 doctors’ offices and outpatient centers, with locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, and internationally. We employ 4,900 physicians, and we are leaders in clinical care, groundbreaking research, and treatment breakthroughs. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside as one of the nation’s best hospitals in many specialties and ranks UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on its Honor Roll of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. We are dedicated to providing Life Changing Medicine to our communities.