Dr. David Nabarro:

There will be many answers to several of the questions to which I will have to say either I do not know or, quite often also, we do not know, referring to the broader public health community that is based in WHO and through its networks. I personally do not know just how often Covid could be transmitted in breastmilk. I have seen reports that suggest it is possible. I want to really make the following point, which is emphasised very strongly by the World Health Organization, that we must do all we can to promote breastfeeding of infants when they are born. We must not use the fear of the possibility of somebody not knowing whether they have Covid as an excuse to perhaps encourage early cessation of breastfeeding or the non-starting of breastfeeding. I really want to encourage continued breastfeeding wherever possible. There is still a lack of understanding on just how important transmission through breastmilk is for this particular virus. If I have more information I will come back to the committee. My colleague here, who is helping me, has also said to me that there is still real uncertainty about how much Covid might get into breastmilk. It is a big research question. l request that there is a good attention to breast hygiene in the normal way just in case there is a possibility of transmission as a result of having contact with the virus on the breast.