Kohima, April 27 (MExN): The Department of Health and Family Welfare Nagaland on Tuesday cautioned against smoking, especially during COVID-19.
Referring to a research study purportedly by Council of Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) claiming that smokers and vegetarians are ‘less vulnerable to COVID-19 infection’, Dr C Tetseo, Joint Director and State Programme Officer of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) said that while vegetables and fruits boost immunity and is good for all, “there is no good reason to smoke during the COVID pandemic.”
The CSIR has already denied that the study was released by the Institute and affirmed that no conclusion can be drawn that smoking protects people from COVID-19 infection, Dr Tetseo clarified.
He further informed that most studies linking beneficial effect of smoking in protecting people from COVID-19 infection come from researchers who have conflict of interest with the tobacco industry. “Most of these research papers were not peer reviewed and some taken down or retracted,” he added.
On the other hand, there are numerous studies on vulnerability of smokers to COVID-19 infection, Dr Tetseo shared, and stressed the importance of relying on what World Health Organisation (WHO) says.
According to WHO, smokers run the risk of developing severe complication when infected with COVID-19 and this could be the best time to quit, Dr Tetseo added.
