READERS are assured picking up their newspaper and flicking through the pages is safe to do during the current crisis.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed newspapers remain safe to read during the coronavirus pandemic.

The WHO has stated that the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low, and therefore the risk of contracting COVID-19 through receipt of a printed paper is infinitely small.

The organisation has advised precautions such as washing hands remain essential to preventing the spread of the disease in any circumstance.

A statement from WHO said: “The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.”

Virologist George Lomonossoff, pictured, told BBC Radio Scotland: “Newspapers are pretty sterile because of the way they are printed and the process they’ve been through (to be produced).”

The reassurance also extends to Royal Mail and Amazon packages.

The UK government has committed to allowing news providers to stay open within new lockdown legislation and confirmed that journalists are recognised as key workers.