The COVID-19 pandemic is still unfortunately under progression. There are limited data with regard to the clinical characteristics of the patients as well as to their prognostic factors. Smoking, to date, has been assumed to be possibly associated with adverse disease prognosis, as extensive evidence has highlighted the negative impact of tobacco use on lung health and its causal association with a plethora of respiratory diseases.
Smoking is also detrimental to the immune system and its responsiveness to infections, making smokers more vulnerable to infectious diseases. Previous studies have shown that smokers are twice more likely than non-smokers to contract influenza and have more severe symptoms, while smokers were also noted to have higher mortality in the previous MERS-CoV outbreak.
National Authority on Tobacco & Alcohol (NATA) Chairman Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa said, “As part of treaty obligations, WHO FCTC Parties are required to encourage quitting and to protect their respective tobacco control measures from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry (Article 5.3 of the FCTC), and the guidelines for the implementation of Article 5.3 recommend that Parties raise awareness about tobacco industry tactics exposed in accordance with treaty guidelines because their corporate behaviour resulted in the tobacco epidemic that kills 8 million people annually.”
Hence, partnerships with the tobacco industry could erode governments’ credibility in upholding public health and in delivering anti-smoking messages in the time of COVID – 19.
Manjari Peiris – Daily Mirror – April 18, 2020.
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