CCR5 inhibition in critical COVID-19 patients decreases inflammatory cytokines, increases CD8 T-cells, and decreases SARS-CoV2 RNA in plasma by day 14

•Anti-CCR5 humanized monoclonal antibody restored CD8 counts in COVID patients.•Inversely correlated with decreases in plasma viral load (pVL) by day 14.•CCL5/RANTES up 3–5-fold in mild/moderate patients and >100-fold in critical ones.•First report of highly sensitive, quantitative pVL by ddPCR in COVID patients.•Statistically significant drop in IL-6 by day 14 of treatment.