The World Health Organization on Friday updated guidance on wearing facemasks during the coronavirus pandemic, encouraging their use in crowded situations in places where the new coronavirus is widespread.

As the deadly virus continues to spread, the WHO changed its stance on who should wear a mask, when it should be worn and what it should be made of.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-temporary-pause-who-to-resume-hydroxychloroquine-trials-303045">After 'temporary pause', WHO to resume hydroxychloroquine trials</a>

"Governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"In areas with community transmission, we advise that people aged 60 years or over, or those with underlying conditions, should wear a medical mask in situations where physical distancing is not possible," he added.

The WHO also issued new guidance on the composition of non-medical fabric masks, advising that they should consist of at least three layers of different material.

But Tedros stressed that masks were only one part of an effective strategy to suppress the virus and could lead people into a false sense of security.

He said they were not a replacement for physical distancing and hand hygiene.

"Masks alone will not protect you from COVID-19," he told a virtual news conference.

"Find, isolate, test and care for every case, and to trace and quarantine every contact. That is what we know works. That is every country's best defence against COVID-19."

The novel coronavirus has infected at least 6.6 million people and killed more than 390,000 since the outbreak first emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP. 
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The World Health Organization on Friday updated guidance on wearing facemasks during the coronavirus pandemic, encouraging their use in crowded situations in places where the new coronavirus is widespread.

The World Health Organization on Friday updated guidance on wearing facemasks during the coronavirus pandemic, encouraging their use in crowded situations in places where the new coronavirus is widespread. As the deadly virus continues to spread, the WHO changed its stance on who should wear a mask, when it should be worn and what it should be made of. Also read | After 'temporary pause', WHO to resume hydroxychloroquine trials "Governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "In areas with community transmission, we advise that people aged 60 years or over, or those with underlying conditions, should wear a medical mask in situations where physical distancing is not possible," he added. The WHO also issued new guidance on the composition of non-medical fabric masks, advising that they should consist of at least three layers of different material. But Tedros stressed that masks were only one part of an effective strategy to suppress the virus and could lead people into a false sense of security. He said they were not a replacement for physical distancing and hand hygiene. "Masks alone will not protect you from COVID-19," he told a virtual news conference. "Find, isolate, test and care for every case, and to trace and quarantine every contact. That is what we know works. That is every country's best defence against COVID-19." The novel coronavirus has infected at least 6.6 million people and killed more than 390,000 since the outbreak first emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.

WHO updates guidelines on wearing masks

World leaders on Friday pledged to speed up work on tests, drugs, and vaccines to treat novel coronavirus and share them with the rest of the countries, but the United States did not participate in the initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO).&nbsp;

The virtual conference aimed to accelerate the development of safe and effective drugs, tests, and vaccines to prevent, diagnose, and treat the virus and ensure equal access to treatments for rich and poor.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-over-50000-fatalities-us-witnesses-lowest-coronavirus-death-toll-in-three-weeks-294668">With over 50,000 fatalities, US witnesses lowest coronavirus death toll in three weeks</a>

"We are facing a common threat which we can only defeat with a common approach," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said as he opened the conference.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-in-france-due-to-coroanvirus-crosses-22200-hospitalizations-fall-294650">Death toll in France due to coroanvirus crosses 22,200; hospitalizations fall</a>

"Experience has told us that even when tools are available they have not been equally available to all. We cannot allow that to happen."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said for "global public good", the vaccine should be produced and distributed in all parts of the world.&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron urged all G7 and G20 nations to back the initiative, adding "the fight against COVID-19 is a common human good and there should be no division in order to win this battle."

Earlier, US Mission in Geneva confirmed to Reuters that the country would not participate in the meet.&nbsp;

"Although the United States was not in attendance at the meeting in question, there should be no doubt about our continuing determination to lead on global health matters, including the current COVID crisis," a spokesperson of the mission said.&nbsp;

The US has been critical of WHO for its slow response to the pandemic and "China-centric" approach. US President Donald Trump, a few days ago, also froze the funding to the global health organization.&nbsp;

The virtual meet was attended by several nations from Asia, the Middle East, and Americas, but big countries like India, China, and Russia gave it a miss.&nbsp;

 
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World leaders on Friday pledged to speed up work on tests, drugs, and vaccines to treat novel coronavirus and share them with the rest of the countries, but the United States did not participate in the initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO).

World leaders on Friday pledged to speed up work on tests, drugs, and vaccines to treat novel coronavirus and share them with the rest of the countries, but the United States did not participate in the initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO). The virtual conference aimed to accelerate the development of safe and effective drugs, tests, and vaccines to prevent, diagnose, and treat the virus and ensure equal access to treatments for rich and poor. Also read | With over 50,000 fatalities, US witnesses lowest coronavirus death toll in three weeks "We are facing a common threat which we can only defeat with a common approach," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said as he opened the conference. Also read | Death toll in France due to coroanvirus crosses 22,200; hospitalizations fall "Experience has told us that even when tools are available they have not been equally available to all. We cannot allow that to happen." German Chancellor Angela Merkel said for "global public good", the vaccine should be produced and distributed in all parts of the world. French President Emmanuel Macron urged all G7 and G20 nations to back the initiative, adding "the fight against COVID-19 is a common human good and there should be no division in order to win this battle." Earlier, US Mission in Geneva confirmed to Reuters that the country would not participate in the meet. "Although the United States was not in attendance at the meeting in question, there should be no doubt about our continuing determination to lead on global health matters, including the current COVID crisis," a spokesperson of the mission said. The US has been critical of WHO for its slow response to the pandemic and "China-centric" approach. US President Donald Trump, a few days ago, also froze the funding to the global health organization. The virtual meet was attended by several nations from Asia, the Middle East, and Americas, but big countries like India, China, and Russia gave it a miss.

World leaders unite to accelerate COVID-19 tests, vaccine; US stays away from WHO initiative

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that there was "no evidence" so far to suggest that people who have recovered from novel coronavirus cannot get infected from the same virus again.&nbsp;

The WHO also warned against issuing "immunity passports" or "risk-free certificates" to patients who have recovered, saying the action might lead to increase of the virus's spread as the standard precautions might be ignored.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-leaders-unite-to-accelerate-covid-19-tests-vaccine-us-stays-away-from-who-initiative-294673">World leaders unite to accelerate COVID-19 tests, vaccine; US stays away from WHO initiative</a>

Last week, Chile&nbsp;said that it would start distributing "health passports" to people who have recovered from the illness.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-over-50000-fatalities-us-witnesses-lowest-coronavirus-death-toll-in-three-weeks-294668">With over 50,000 fatalities, US witnesses lowest coronavirus death toll in three weeks</a> 
 
Earlier, on Friday the global health agency collaborated with world leaders and the private sector on an initiative for a quick development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments and equal access for all.&nbsp;

So far, at least 196,298 have died globally from coronavirus and the number of infected cases stand at 2,809,231, according to a Reuters tally. At least 723,023 people have also recovered from COVID-19.&nbsp;

(With Reuters inputs) 
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The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that there was "no evidence" so far to suggest that people who have recovered from novel coronavirus cannot get infected from the same virus again.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that there was "no evidence" so far to suggest that people who have recovered from novel coronavirus cannot get infected from the same virus again. The WHO also warned against issuing "immunity passports" or "risk-free certificates" to patients who have recovered, saying the action might lead to increase of the virus's spread as the standard precautions might be ignored. Also read | World leaders unite to accelerate COVID-19 tests, vaccine; US stays away from WHO initiative Last week, Chile said that it would start distributing "health passports" to people who have recovered from the illness. Also read | With over 50,000 fatalities, US witnesses lowest coronavirus death toll in three weeks Earlier, on Friday the global health agency collaborated with world leaders and the private sector on an initiative for a quick development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments and equal access for all. So far, at least 196,298 have died globally from coronavirus and the number of infected cases stand at 2,809,231, according to a Reuters tally. At least 723,023 people have also recovered from COVID-19. (With Reuters inputs)

No evidence that people recovered from coronavirus won't get reinfected: WHO

The sewing machines were humming in a garment factory in Dhaka on Tuesday (April 21), as workers stitched together personal protective equipment (PPE) suits for doctors, nurses, soldiers and police in the country - instead of the usual garments destined for export.

Bangladesh garment factories switch gears, produce PPE amid coronavirus demands

Its a race against time for the doctors and nurses treating the patients infected by the coronavirus. This story is about the heroes who are fighting the battle against this disease.

Gravitas: The health professionals that are battling coronavirus

People are turning to face masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus. But, Pharmacies are running out of them. From Hong Kong, to Manila and even Bangkok - countries affected by the Wuhan virus are running short of face masks.

Gravitas: Wuhan virus triggers a shortage of face masks

Rumours about China's deadly virus are spreading fast. In this report, Palki S Upadhyay answers some frequently asked questions about the Wuhan coronavirus - separating the facts from fiction.

Gravitas: How to protect yourself from the Coronavirus