A mother should breastfeed her newborn baby even if she has coronavirus

The World Health Organisation says the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risk of transmitting the virus.

They say mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to initiate and continue breastfeeding and not be separated from their infants - unless the mother is too unwell.

Based on evidence, the World Health Organisation says children are at lower risk of catching the virus than adults but are at high risk of coming down with diseases and other conditions that breastfeeding helps prevent.