Bishop Taylor recovering after contracting COVID-19

Bishop received monoclonal antibody treatment to help alleviate symptoms

Published: December 16, 2020

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced Dec. 10 that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He will remain in isolation until at least Dec. 18.

On Dec. 9 he was tested at UAMS after experiencing some symptoms and entered quarantine awaiting the results. When he didn’t get the results the next day, he got a rapid test at another clinic to confirm his diagnosis.

“I want to thank everyone for all of the prayers,” he said in a Facebook post. “Since the results of the COVID-19 test I had taken at UAMS were slow in coming, I decided to go and get the quick test, which, as expected, was positive.”

On Dec. 11 he received a monoclonal antibody treatment, an infusion that can be given to mildly or moderately ill COVID-19 patients to reduce the symptoms. It is available only at certain hospitals.

“As it turns out, being over 65 and in a risk group, I qualified for a monoclonal antibody infusion, the same treatment President Trump got, so I will go and get this infusion tomorrow morning,” he wrote Dec. 10. “It may not shorten my quarantine, but it should help reduce the symptoms. Thank you for your prayers and pray also for our seminarians who now all have to be tested too.”

Bishop Taylor said in a letter Dec. 9, “I am not aware of any particular source of exposure for myself … Although these last several days I have not had extended periods of proximate contact with the seminarians, we do share meals together, and there is always the possibility of transmission in a group home setting like our House of Formation. I should be able to continue to conduct the business of the diocese by computer and telephone from my isolation quarters.”

He released a short statement Dec. 15 to update Catholics on his recovery.

"The monoclonal antibody infusion I received on Friday, Dec. 11 really has made a big difference, and by Sunday my symptoms had improved markedly. My main symptoms now are just coughing and fatigue, which may continue for some time even when I am out of quarantine. Sincere thanks to everyone for their prayers and support."

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