Smokers are worried at this time with the Covid-19 respiratory disease running rampant across the globe, and people with unhealthy lifestyle habits appear to be especially vulnerable. We all know smokers hospitalised with COVID-19 are more likely to become severely unwell more than non-smokers with the disease. At any point in time, most smokers want to quit, and COVID-19 provides the impetus to do it sooner rather than later. The Conversation.com surveyed 1,204 adult smokers across Australia and the United Kingdom and found the proportion intending to quit within the next two weeks almost tripled from around 10% of smokers before COVID-19 to 29% in April.
Many more were thinking about quitting some time soon, and most wanted help to do so. Research shows many people who smoke understand they can reduce their COVID-19 related risk by addressing their smoking. Given this, and the broader health gains associated with stopping smoking, we must ensure people who want to quit in the face of COVID-19 are supported.
