The World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed claims that ‘smoking reduces the risk of COVID’, and has urged smokers to quit amid the worldwide pandemic.
Their advice comes shortly after a study at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris suggested that a substance in tobacco may stop smokers from catching COVID-19.
In the study, the team surveyed 480 coronavirus patients, 350 of who were hospitalised, and 130 whose symptoms were mild enough for them to stay at home.
The survey revealed that of those admitted to hospital, 4.4% were daily smokers, while of those sent home, the rate was 5.3%.