The COVID-19 pandemic has required an unprecedented reallocation of clinical and public health resources and forced us to reassess how we address issues of public health. As public health professionals, we devote a tremendous amount of time to mitigating the devastating effects of COVID-19 while increasing the public’s understanding of the impacts associated with the virus. Smoking, vaping and exposure to secondhand smoke are risk factors for susceptibility to more severe COVID-19 symptoms. The Pennsylvania Health Policy Coalition strongly supports the efforts of the Breathe Free Pennsylvania Coalition to create smoke and vape-free environments by closing the loopholes in state law that leave thousands of employees and patrons exposed to toxic secondhand smoke and vaping product aerosols.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “being a current or former cigarette smoker may increase your risk of severe illness from COVID-19i.” Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that “smoking impairs lung function, making it harder for the body to fight off coronaviruses and other respiratory diseases. Available research suggests that smokers are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 outcomes and death.”
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