We find that ex vivo isolated CD14+ monocytes from mild and moderate COVID-19 patients are phenotypically different from monocytes from healthy individuals, displaying differential expression of costimulatory and inhibitory receptors, MHC molecules and a dysfunctional metabolic profile that is accompanied by decreased ex vivo NF-κB activation, while maintaining an intact type I IFN antiviral response. This evidence concerns the gene NFKB1 and COVID-19.