MYTH: Smokers are more immune to coronavirus
FACT: Smokers are a category at risk in case of infection with COVID-19
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that it has noticed attempts by lobbyists close to the tobacco industry to manipulate the opinion that smokers are more immune to coronavirus. They warn that the complete opposite happens, i.e. in case of infection, smokers are a category that faces more severe symptoms, which leads to hospitalization or in the worst case premature death.
“Tobacco lobbyists have tried to manipulate COVID-19 policymaking to get tobacco shops listed as ‘essential’ and offer free delivery of tobacco products to people in quarantine. Smokers likely face more severe symptoms if infected, leading to hospitalizations and premature deaths”, a WHO statement says.
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