WHO issues new COVID-19 guidelines | What you need to know?

 

The World Health Organisation (WHO), a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) responsible for analysing international public health, has issued a fresh set of new Covid-19 guidelines.

WHO updated its existing recommendations on wearing masks, hygiene, Covid-19 treatment and patient care amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. What you should know about the new Covid-19 guidelines.

Under the revised Covid guidelines, patients can be discharged from isolation early if their rapid antigen test results come out negative. WHO also suggested five days of isolation in the absence of Covid testing. Patients with COVID-19 symptoms and no test can isolate for 10 days from the date of symptom onset.

The WHO has recommended using a mask in crowded places. WHO said that people should use masks irrespective of their local epidemiological situation, warning against the current spread of Covid-19.

The WHO recommends oral medication commonly known as Paxlovid. However, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should consult a doctor before taking oral medications.

In recent days, Covid-19 cases have increased rapidly across the world. According to a study by Peking University, around 900 million people in China were infected with Covid-19 as of 11 January.

Zeng Guang, ex-head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control, said that the peak of China's Covid wave can last two to three months.

According to WHO, China has stopped providing daily Covid statistics since abandoning its strict zero-Covid policy. China has been witnessing a sharp rise in COVID cases in recent weeks.

WHO urged China's health officials to regularly share real-time information about Covid-19 cases in the country. WHO asked China to provide data on hospitalisation rate, Covid-related deaths and vaccinations.

The United States (US), South Korea, India, Italy, Japan and Taiwan have imposed COVID restrictions on Chinese travellers due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country.