WHO finds drinking alcohol can increase the risk of catching Covid-19

(CNN) - In case it bears repeating, the World Health Organization wants you to know that excessive alcohol consumption will not protect you against Covid-19.

It won't kill the virus, either -- the opposite is true.Excessive alcohol use can weaken the immune system, so in an attempt to curb drinking during the pandemic, WHO officials are urging governments around the world to enforce measures that limit alcohol consumption and crack down on coronavirus misinformation."

At times of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol consumption can exacerbate health vulnerability, risk-taking behaviours, mental health issues and violence," WHO/Europe said in a factsheet published on Tuesday."

WHO/Europe reminds people that drinking alcohol does not protect them from COVID-19, and encourages governments to enforce measures which limit alcohol consumption," it said.

The organization published the statement the same day President Donald Trump announced he'd cut WHO funding.And its first recommendation to combat the health risks of drinking?

Well, not drinking at all.But many people could view that advice as extreme, since it comes at a time when much of the world is at home, Americans are stockpiling alcohol and Zoom happy hours have replaced bar get-togethers. All of those are reasons why, WHO says, now is a particularly bad time to drink in excess.