Did the WHO advise against ibuprofen during the pandemic?

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The World Health Organisation Advised Against Ibuprofen Use for Covid-19 Symptoms in Early Pandemic Stages

In March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that individuals experiencing Covid-19 symptoms refrain from self-medicating with ibuprofen. This guidance followed warnings from French officials suggesting that anti-inflammatory drugs could potentially exacerbate the effects of the virus.
Early Pandemic Concerns Regarding Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

At the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was considerable apprehension surrounding non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a class of medication used for a range of conditions from minor ailments to chronic diseases. This concern stemmed from suspicions that NSAIDs might worsen infections, particularly bacterial ones.
New Study Reassures on NSAID Safety

More recent observational research, published in Lancet Rheumatology and encompassing data from 72,000 hospitalised patients, has indicated that NSAIDs do not elevate the risk of mortality or increased severity in Covid-19 patients. The study's authors concluded that clinicians should continue prescribing NSAIDs as they did prior to the pandemic.
Data from UK Hospitalised Patients

The research analysed information from 72,000 Covid-19 patients admitted to 255 health facilities across England, Scotland, and Wales between January and August 2020. Among these, 4,211 patients had used NSAIDs before their hospitalisation. The study observed similar death rates irrespective of NSAID use, with 30.4 per cent mortality among those who had taken the drugs compared to 31.3 per cent for those who had not. Patients who took NSAIDs were also not found to be more likely to require critical care, ventilation, or oxygen.

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Did the WHO advise against ibuprofen during the pandemic?

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