Editorial in the journal Tobacco Control calls for a ban on cigarettes in the time of the Coronavirus
Hefler M, Gartner CE. The tobacco industry in the time of COVID-19: time to shut it down? https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/tobaccocontrol/early/2020/04/06/tobaccocontrol-2020-055807.full.pdf
“The case for phasing out cigarette sales has been clearly and persuasively argued.* It takes on added urgency during this pandemic. The increased risk of severe outcomes for smokers hospitalized with COVID-19,+ and the reductions in hospitalizations generally that result from quitting smoking, may provide the impetus for restricting cigarette sales while health services are strained to the breaking point….”
References:
*Smith EA, Malone RE. An argument for phasing out sales of cigarettes. Tobacco Control 2019: tobaccocontrol-2019-055079.
+Vardavas CI, Nikitara K. COVID-19 and smoking: a systematic review of the evidence. Tobacco Induced Diseases 2020; 18.
Stephen Hamann
