Women with virus should still breastfeed: WHO

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that children are at relatively low risk of COVID-19 but are at high risk of numerous other diseases and conditions that breastfeeding prevents.

Geneva:The Director-General of the World Health Organisation on Friday said breastfeeding mothers with symptoms of COVID-19 should be encouraged to continue their feeding regime as the benefits outweigh the risks of stopping.

"We know that children are at relatively low risk of COVID-19 but are at high risk of numerous other diseases and conditions that breastfeeding prevents," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a briefing in Geneva.

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"Mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to initiate and continue breastfeeding and not be separated from their infants unless the mother is too unwell," he added.

(AP)