The French government has issued a warning that over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs may make coronavirus worse.
Olivier Véran, a qualified doctor and neurologist, who is also the nation's health minister tweeted on Saturday: “The taking of anti-inflammatories [ibuprofen, cortisone … ] could be a factor in aggravating the infection.
"In case of fever, take paracetamol. If you are already taking anti-inflammatory drugs, ask your doctor’s advice.”
According to health officials, anti-inflammatory drugs are a known risk for people with infectious illnesses because they can decrease the response of the body’s immune system, the Guardian reports.
They are recommending that people should take paracetamol instead because it “it will reduce the fever without counterattacking the inflammation”.
Since January, all French residents most seek advice from a pharmacist if they want to buy popular painkillers such as ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin.
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Jean-Louis Montastruc, the head of pharmacology at Toulouse hospital, told RTL radio: “Anti-inflammatory drugs increase the risk of complications when there is a fever or infection.”
The news comes as all ski resorts in France are being closed today and will not reopen for the rest of the season because of COVID-19.
The shutdown comes just three weeks before the French and British school holidays, one of the busiest periods of the season.
France will shut shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities from today with its 67 million people were told to stay home after confirmed infections doubled in 72 hours.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the government had no other option after the public health authority said 91 people had died in France and almost 4,500 were now infected.
"We must absolutely limit our movements," he said.
Gatherings of more than 100 people have also been banned and tourist attractions have been shuttered.
The death toll in the UK has doubled as 35 patients have now died.
Official figures have also confirmed the number of positive cases in the UK is 1,372.
Across the world more than 6,000 people have now died from the disease.
