<span style="color: #222222;">Use of Tobacco and Smoking can increase the risk of transmission of Covid-19. The Health and Family Welfare Ministry said, smokers are more vulnerable to COVID-19 as the act of smoking increases contact between lips and fingers. It also said, smoking products such as water pipes or hookah often involve the sharing of mouth-pieces and hoses, which could accelerate the transmission of COVID-19 in social gathering.<br />”<br />”Experts have said that smokers are more likely to develop severe symptoms or die from COVID-19 as it primarily attacks the lungs. Evidence from countries reporting COVID-19 related fatalities has highlighted that the people with pre-existing non-communicable diseases are more susceptible to becoming severely ill with COVID-19. Tobacco, being one of the causes behind these diseases indirectly puts the tobacco users and smokers at risk of being affected by COVID-19.<br />”<br />”The Health Ministry said, corona virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Chewing tobacco products increases the urge to spit which can accelerate the transmission of COVID-19. Spitting in public places increases health risks especially those of spreading the infectious and contagious diseases like COVID19, tuberculosis, swine flu, encephalitis and others. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for the four main Non-Communicable Diseases- cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare warns against the use of any tobacco products.</span><br />