Ban on cigarettes crucial in fight against Covid-19 says HSRC
This is according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), which says the current ban on the purchase of tobacco products is crucial in the fight against the virus
THE country’s healthcare system will not be able to cope if even one percent of the country’s eight million smokers were to contract the coronavirus.
This is according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), which says the current ban on the purchase of tobacco products is crucial in the fight against the virus.
‘The global outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, a fast-spreading, primarily respiratory disease, has brought to the fore the importance of lung health – and with it, the dangers of tobacco use.
‘With particular reference to Covid-19, smokers are at greater risk because of their already compromised lung health,’ the council said in a statement.
It said if an estimated 5% of smokers who contract the virus had to require Intensive Care Unit (ICU) treatment, this would translate to about 4 000 people needing ICU hospital beds and ventilators in the country.
‘Under current calculations this would exceed the availability of ventilators and place health workers at risk.’
The council recently conducted two behavioural online surveys to investigate South Africans’ knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices related to Covid-19 infection.
Cigarette buying behaviour
The majority of smokers (88%) were not able to buy cigarettes during the lockdown, suggesting that the ban was efficient in reducing cigarette access, and therefore use.
Almost a quarter (23.5%) of smokers in informal settlements and 16% of those in townships were able to buy cigarettes.
This was significantly higher than the corresponding rates for smokers in cities (9.9%), suburbs (8.2%) and on farms (7.3%).
Cigarettes and alcohol use behaviours
Cigarette buying was more prevalent among those who were able to buy alcohol than those who were not able to do so.
About 72% of people who bought alcohol also bought cigarettes.
Buying was also more prevalent among those who were able to drink alcohol with friends. About 26% of people who drank alcohol with friends during the lockdown also bought cigarettes.
Social distancing behaviours among cigarette users
The percentage of participants who came into close contact with someone outside their home, i.e. shaking hands, hugging or kissing, was significantly higher for those who were able to buy cigarettes during lockdown (26.2%) than those who were not (9.8%).
More than 40% of those who were able to buy cigarettes came into close contact (within two metres) with more than 10 people when away from their homes, compared to 26.4% of smokers who did not buy cigarettes during lockdown.
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