A definitive assessment of Covid on AMR, however, also needs to take into account the behavioural/societal changes that occurred globally. Potentially positive benefits on AMR risk reduction have included policies to increase handwashing, use of facemasks, physical distancing, travel restrictions and quarantine/lockdown.10 
Data is emerging to back up the positive impacts on AMR of Covid precautions. A Singapore hospital study reported that Covid-containment measures resulted in HAI rates falling, including a significant decline in MRSA and in healthcare-associated respiratory viral infections. Proper use of personal-protective equipment (PPE) and good hand hygiene kept other HAIs stable.11 
Vaccination should also decrease the need for hospitalisation for Covid patients and could further reduce exposure risk to HAIs such as MRSA as well as reducing prophylactic antibiotic prescribing in respiratory symptoms. In January 2021, the WHO advised that antibiotic therapy or prophylaxis should not be used in patients with mild Covid, and should only be prescribed for moderate Covid if there is a clinical suspicion of a bacterial infection.6,12