The Ministry of Health has approved the first permanent guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health has approved the first permanent clinical guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19 , TASS reported , citing the document.

The recommendations state that the source of infection can be not only an infected person, but also a person in the incubation period, as well as an asymptomatic carrier of SARS-CoV-2.

“The greatest danger to others is posed by a sick person at the end of the incubation period and during the first days of illness,” the document states.

The text also notes that the COVID-19 pathogen belongs to the second pathogenicity group, and the average incubation period is three to four days. Outpatient treatment regimens include antiviral medications, including molnupiravir, favipiravir, nirmatrelvir with ritonavir, and other active ingredients. The use of agents with indirect antiviral effects and immunostimulants is also permissible, depending on the clinical presentation.

Adult patients who test positive for COVID-19 can receive medical care at home if they have no clinical manifestations or the disease is mild.

The guidelines state that one in three people infected will experience a lack of oxygen in their blood, and that mild and asymptomatic cases can lead to the hidden spread of infection.

The Ministry of Health also recommends assessing the presence of concomitant chronic diseases and other conditions, including pregnancy, in patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 to identify risk factors for severe and complicated disease progression.

The document also contains recommendations for rehabilitation after the disease and for prevention. The section on vaccination states that the vector vaccine is recommended for cancer patients and people living with HIV, regardless of their treatment regimen or immune status.

In January 2020, China reported an outbreak of viral pneumonia to the WHO, with the first cases identified in Wuhan. By January 9, China had concluded that the illness was caused by a new coronavirus  —later named SARS-CoV-2, and the disease, COVID-19.

On January 30, the WHO declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The following day, Russian authorities reported their first cases . Recorded data showed 6.9 million deaths during the pandemic, but the WHO estimates the death toll could be as high as 20 million.

On May 5, 2023, the WHO lifted the COVID-19 pandemic status. The pandemic lasted three years, one month, and 24 days. The organization emphasized that lifting the emergency status does not mean the virus no longer poses a threat.

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