Blocking IL8 signaling with an anti-IL8 monoclonal antibody or a CXCR1/2 receptor blocker (reparixin) (Opfermann et al., 2015) reduced both neutrophil activation in vitro and the severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by SARS -CoV-2 in vivo. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.