inclusion criteria: - patient or designated proxy willing and able to provide informed consent prior to enrollment in the study. - covid-19 pcr positive on nasopharyngeal swab - aged >/= 18 years old - patient hospitalized with newly diagnosed documented severe covid-19 infection: with respiratory rate >/= 30 breaths/min or peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (spo2) < 93% on room air for nonintubated pts. - fever of 38.5 c or suspected respiratory infection - il-6 level >/= 80 pcg/ml - cohort #1 - non intubated cohort #2 - intubated - women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test - patients receiving ongoing steroid therapy are eligible - patients will be allowed to receive concurrent or sequential treatment with remdesivir

inclusion criteria: - patient or designated proxy willing and able to provide informed consent prior to enrollment in the study. - covid-19 pcr positive on nasopharyngeal swab - aged >/= 18 years old - patient hospitalized with newly diagnosed documented severe covid-19 infection: with respiratory rate >/= 30 breaths/min or peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (spo2) < 93% on room air for nonintubated pts. - fever of 38.5 c or suspected respiratory infection - il-6 level >/= 80 pcg/ml - cohort #1 - non intubated cohort #2 - intubated - women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test - patients receiving ongoing steroid therapy are eligible - patients will be allowed to receive concurrent or sequential treatment with remdesivir