WHO Issues Guidance on Self-Testing for COVID-19 to Address Testing Inequity

As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to recede in some parts of the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) is warning that abandoning testing would cripple officials' efforts to track the disease. The WHO has issued guidance advising people on how to test themselves for COVID-19, a move that critics have long advocated for to address the inequity in testing, particularly in poor countries. According to WHO figures, COVID-19 cases and deaths have both fallen significantly in recent weeks, but some countries are dramatically reducing their COVID-19 testing.

Key Takeaways:

• The WHO has issued guidance on self-testing for COVID-19, a move aimed at addressing the inequity in testing, particularly in poor countries.
• Self-testing remains a vital tool in the fight against COVID-19 as part of a comprehensive strategy, according to WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
• The lack of WHO guidance for self-testing has been a major obstacle for poor countries, as donors are unwilling to buy self-testing kits without WHO recommendations.
• The WHO has been criticized for not providing clear guidance on self-testing, which has hampered efforts to slow the pandemic in low-income countries.
• The self-testing kits have rarely been available in poor countries, whereas people in numerous rich countries have had easy access to rapid tests for months.
• The new recommendation for self-testing is expected to help increase access to testing, which is too expensive for many low-income countries.
• Some experts estimate it could take until 2023 for self-testing kits to be widely available in the developing world.
• The WHO's guidance on self-testing comes as some countries are dramatically reducing their COVID-19 testing, despite a decline in cases and deaths.

Statistics:

• According to WHO figures, COVID-19 cases and deaths have both fallen significantly in recent weeks.
• Self-testing kits are expected to be more widely available in poor countries following the WHO's guidance, but it may take until 2023 for widespread availability.
• The WHO has highlighted the importance of self-testing as part of a comprehensive strategy to combat COVID-19, with director-general Tedros stating that abandoning testing would cripple officials' efforts to track the disease.

Sources:

• AP news wire, "WHO Issues Guidance on Self-Testing for COVID-19"
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