Bengaluru: After the concerns submitted by the high power committee on the control of tobacco vis-à-vis banning cigarettes and hookah in bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels, the government has directed the department concerned to ensure a more stringent enforcement.
Experts warn that smoking in the pub can not only compromise the health of smokers’ lung itself, but can also cause SuperSpreading Covid-19 events.
Dr.
We Vishal Rao, an oncologist and members of the High Power Committee on tobacco control, in a letter to the Minister of Chief last month, seeking more stringent implementation of smoking prohibitions in hotels, bars, restaurants and o’clock, especially in the context of a third of covid waves 19.
Dr.
Rao told Tii: “The smoking action itself contributes to transmission through aerosol emissions and virus particles.
Furthermore, lip and forced grouping can cause smoke to travel at least twice as long as it happens while talking regularly.
In addition, smokers don’t Wearing a mask when they dragged cigarettes or vaping.
This will make smokers more susceptible to infection.
“Smokers also often exhale more force, which means the particles they force out of their lungs can go further, said Dr.
Rao.
After the letter, N Manjunath Prasad, the main secretary with CM, on September 22, sent communication aimed at the Supreme Commissioner of the BBMP, Commissioner of the Bengaluru Police, the Department of Urban Development, the Department of Household, urged officials to strictly enforce the ban on smoking in restaurants, Darshini , Pub, hotel and cafe.
Randeep D, Special Commissioner, BBMP, confirmed receipt of advisers from the CM office in COTPA (cigarettes and other tobacco products) in the middle of a pandemic.
“Covid narration will make it easier for us to implement a smoking ban in such places,” Randeep said.
Dr.
Satyanarayana Mysore, Pulmonologist, said the virus transmission occurred while sneezing, speaking, coughing and deep breathing, including smoking.
“Hypothesically, it can also cause Covid-19 SuperSpreading events,” said Dr.
Mysore.
“Smoking is a social crime, and health hazard.
Even in the post-covid era, the designated smoking area must be continued.
The bar and pub must have responsibility and follow the rules.
Ideally the air that is exhaled in the designated smoking area must be sucked because it is done at the airport .
It should not be allowed to linger in a limited place.
“He said besides Covid, the flu incident increased.
“In general, these steps apply to prevent respiratory infections,” he said.
Dr.
Ranganath TS, Professor and Head, Ministry of Medicine, BMCRI, said the ban on smoking in public places was the needs of the clock.
“Smoke that is exhaled from a positive covid asymptomatic can contain aerosols that have the potential to lead to viral transmission,” he said.
Other experts who work closely with the government say even though there are no signs of the third wave, the new variant can appear, and therefore it is important to follow preventative measures.
“The worst affected is passive smoking in places like restaurants,” said experts.