To maintain focus and relevance, the WHO has also removed general medical recommendations that are no longer specific to COVID-19 management.

These revisions come in light of a notable reduction in infection rates and disease severity, alongside the integration of COVID-19 care into regular healthcare systems.

Despite these advances, including widespread vaccine rollouts, COVID-19 continues to infect thousands daily, underscoring the need for updated treatment strategies.

The WHO emphasizes that while vaccination and immunity have led to reduced hospitalization and mortality rates, the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve, impacting its infectivity and disease severity.

This ongoing evolution of the virus necessitates continuous updates to clinical guidelines to ensure effective patient care.

In its latest recommendations, the WHO advises against the use of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients unless there is a suspicion of a concurrent bacterial infection.

This recommendation is particularly strong for patients with mild COVID-19 and is conditionally advised for those with severe cases.

Overall, these updated guidelines aim to provide clearer guidance for clinicians, health workers, and hospital administrators involved in the care of COVID-19 patients.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated guidelines that reflect significant changes in COVID-19 epidemiology, severity, and the healthcare context since the pandemic began in 2020.

For non-severe COVID-19 patients with low suspicion of bacterial infection, the WHO recommends against empirical antibiotics, extending this suggestion to severe cases as well.