Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has tested positive for COVID-19, the department confirmed on Wednesday.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said Tau is in good spirits and is currently self-isolating. The minister has urged anyone who has recently been in contact with him to get tested and take precautionary measures.

His diagnosis comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) says COVID-19 continues to circulate globally, despite the virus no longer being treated as a public health emergency.

In its latest global risk assessment, the WHO said SARS-CoV-2 has now become endemic, and it continues to evolve.

However, the organisation noted that the true scale of infections is difficult to determine due to reduced testing, limited reporting and declining genomic surveillance in many countries.

Health authorities continue to encourage vaccination for high-risk groups and recommend basic precautions such as hand hygiene, staying home when ill and wearing masks in high-risk settings.