WHO called on countries to rapidly ramp up the production of dexamethasone production, a widely-available steroid drug that has been found to significantly reduce deaths among those seriously ill.
“The next challenge is to increase production and rapidly and equitably distribute dexamethasone worldwide, focusing on where it is needed most”, said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaking at a press conference Monday evening.
Some Patients Reporting Persistent Long-term Symptoms after Recovery
WHO experts also noted that some recovered patients have continued to experience symptoms, including: dry cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Phantom pains and motor difficulties as well as depression and other psychiatric symptoms have also been reported by some recovered patients a month or more after being discharged from the hospital.
“We are seeing millions of people who are recovering from COVID-19, which is a very good sign. But indeed there are people who have persistence,” said WHO Covid-19 Technical Lead Maria Van Kerkhove, at the press briefing, in response to the recent reports.