COVID-19 High-Risk Group 'Smokers'... Incheon City Promotes "Let's Quit Smoking" to Citizens

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City has actively stepped up efforts to prevent smoking and promote smoking cessation among citizens following the addition of 'smokers' to the high-risk groups for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to the city on the 16th, the existing high-risk groups for COVID-19 included pregnant women, adults aged 65 and older, and chronic disease patients suffering from diabetes, heart failure, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, etc. However, after the quarantine authorities added smokers to the high-risk groups on the 5th, confirmed cases who are smokers are receiving active management such as hospital admission treatment rather than being placed in residential treatment facilities.

Additionally, the Korea Council on Smoking Cessation Movement and the Korean Academy of Tobacco Control, both smoking cessation expert organizations, jointly announced on the 6th that "Based on various academic evidence published so far, smokers are expected to suffer greater harm if infected with COVID-19," and emphasized that "smoking cessation is necessary to prepare in advance for such infectious diseases."

In a Chinese research case cited by the two organizations, it was found that people with a history of smoking have a 14.3 times higher risk of COVID-19 worsening. Furthermore, the analysis also revealed that smokers infected with COVID-19 are 1.4 times more likely to show severe symptoms compared to non-smokers, and the probability of receiving intensive treatment or dying is 2.4 times higher.

In response, Incheon City is working to raise awareness about the harmful effects of smoking on health, including COVID-19, and the benefits of smoking cessation.

Through city smoking cessation keepers, promotional items (masks) will be distributed mainly at subway stations with high citizen traffic until the 8th of next month, and promotional activities such as educating against smoking in non-smoking areas will be carried out.

An official from Incheon City stated, "Since the quarantine authorities have classified smokers as a high-risk group for COVID-19, we will actively promote smoking prevention and cessation to protect citizens' health and prevent COVID-19," and urged, "We ask citizens to strengthen their will to quit smoking."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.