smoking because of the coronavirus pandemic, a study suggests. The study, carried out for Action on Smoking (Ash), reports that 41% of people who have quit in the last four months have done so in direct response to coronavirus.It also showed that the North East has seen a bigger fall in smoker numbers than anywhere in England since 2005.In a separate study, University College London (UCL) found more people have quit smoking up to June 2020 than in any year since its surveys began.Government advice says people who smoke could be at risk of more severe coronavirus symptoms.Public Health England's guidance states: "There is strong evidence that smoking tobacco is generally associated with an increased risk of developing respiratory viral.