Anakinra, COVID-19, Cytokine Storm

Inclusion Criteria 1. An IRB approved written Informed Consent Form (ICF) is signed and dated by the subject or legal representative. 2. The subject or legal representative must be considered capable of understanding the study procedures to provide consent for participation according to the judgment of the Investigator. 3. Molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection within 14 days of screening assessment. 4. Radiographic evidence of pneumonia by either chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest if collected as part of the standard of care. 5. Age between 18-89 years of age at the screening visit. 6. The subject must fulfill the inclusion criteria for CSS: 1. Fever documented ≥ 38 ˚C (from the time of admission to the hospital), or historical fever (patient-reported). AND 2. Respiratory failure defined as: i.Requiring supplemental O2 of ≥ 4 L nasal cannula or more to maintain an O2 saturation ≥ 92%, within 36 hours of the requirement for that level of O2.24 (Individuals on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or high flow nasal cannula will be allowed) AND c. Ferritin \> 1000 ng/mL at the time of screening. 7. Not requiring mechanical ventilation or ECMO at Screening and Baseline Assessments. 8. ANC must be \> 1 x 10\^9/L before randomization 9. Platelet count must be ≥ 50 x 10\^9/L before randomization. 10. Negative pregnancy test before randomization (women of childbearing age only). 11. GFR ≥ 30 mL/min based on the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. 12. Subjects participating in studies for convalescent plasma or anticoagulation protocol for COVID-19 will be included as long as these are also open-label. Exclusion Criteria 1. The subject is not expected to survive for more than 48 hours from screening, in the opinion of the investigator. 2. Subjects participating in studies for COVID-19 with immunomodulating drugs, will be excluded. See Section 4.3.1 for drugs or investigational drugs for COVID-19 not allowed in this study. 3. Subject is currently participating in another study with an investigational drug. Participation in observational studies is allowed. 4. Known hypersensitivity to anakinra or E. coli derived proteins. 5. Existence of other evidence that can explain pneumonia including but not limited to: Influenza A virus, Influenza B virus, bacterial pneumonia, fungal pneumonia, or mycobacterial infection. 6. Known or suspected active TB including those incompletely treated, or known latent TB not adequately treated. 1. Known or suspected active TB including those incompletely treated. 2. Exclude patients with known latent TB including those incompletely treated (patient reported). 7. Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. 8. Culture confirmed active bacterial infection requiring antibiotic therapy. 9. Subjects who are: do not intubate (DNI) and/or do not resuscitate (DNR) will not be allowed in the study. 10. Subjects already on mechanical ventilation or on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). 11. Subjects with Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group (ECOG)/WHO system score ≥ 3 before their hospital admission. 12. Subjects with past or current lymphoproliferative disorder requiring current medical treatment (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy) for these conditions. 13. Current or past history of a solid tumor including breast or prostate cancer requiring current medical treatment. 14. Subjects receiving other immunosuppressants. 15. Use of the following medications within 6 months of randomization: 1. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors 2. Chronic IL-1 use such as canakinumab or anakinra. 3. IL-6 inhibitors: Use of any IL-6 4. Janus kinase inhibitors 5. Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor 6. C-C Chemokine receptor type 5 7. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD), which include cyclosporine, tacrolimus, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolic acid, mycophenolate, penicillamine, azathioprine, methotrexate. 8. Rituximab and abatacept