The warning came after French health officials warned that anti-inflammatory drugs could worsen effects of the virus.

Commenting on a recent study in The Lancet medical journal, French Health Minister Olivier Veran said it was hypothesised that an enzyme boosted by anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen could facilitate and worsen COVID-19 infections.

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva the UN health agency’s experts were “looking into this to give further guidance.”

He added “In the meantime, we recommend using rather paracetamol, and do not use ibuprofen as a self-medication. That’s important.If ibuprofen had been prescribed by the healthcare professionals, then, of course, that’s up to them.”