translated from Spanish: Smokers are 2.4 times more likely to be intubated if they contract COVID

Smoking is associated with increased COVID-19 damage and lower chances of improvement. Smokers are 1.4 times more likely to have severe symptoms of the disease and 2.4 times more likely to be intubated and admitted to intensive care, said Jorge Alcocer Varela, Secretary of Health, at the daily conference on the new coronavirus.
On World No Tobacco Day on 31 May, the official noted that tobacco smoke has an impact on the health of smokers and non-smokers around the world.
The COVID-19 epidemic, he said, “shows us that other epidemics are integrated into SARS-COV2, such as smoking, 8% of those affected have this condition and are more likely to have a serious illness and less likely to recover.”
World No Tobacco Day was created by WHO Member States in 1987 and is commemorated every year on 31 May. The goal of the day is to raise awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, as well as to discourage tobacco use in any form.
Gady Zabicky Sirot, holder of the National Commission against Addiction (Conadic), said that the Mexican government collects 43 billion pesos in taxes on the tobacco industry, but the cost of addressing the harmful effects of this practice on the population is 75 billion pesos.
Both Alcocer and Zabicky stressed the importance of limiting tobacco use in the country, as it is a harmful practice for health, as did Cristian Morales Fuhrimann, PAHO/WHO representative, who during the conference explained that this year, Mexico is among the winners of the World No Tobacco Day (DMST) Awards.
This distinction is awarded by the World Health Organization, through its regional office of the Pan American Health Organization, to individuals, institutions and governments for actions that promote and strengthen tobacco control actions.
This year they will be given to three Bolivian institutions; Ministry of People’s Power for Health of Venezuela; Brazilian physician and three Mexican government state secretariats (Finance, Health and Economy) for their contributions to tobacco control in their countries.
In the case of Mexico, the work of the three secretariats was recognized for their role in adjusting tobacco excise duties for the 2020 financial year and by the presidential decree promoting the prohibition of the importation of electronic nicotine supply systems and heated tobacco products, which contributes to the prevention of vaping.
Graciela Márquez Colín, Secretary of Economy, explained that since 20O8 the trade in e-cigarettes was banned in Mexico, but there were gaps in regulation.
“The regulatory framework was harmonized to prevent illegal trade practices. The three secretariats proposed to the President to prohibit the import and export of these goods and the import and export law was approved with tobacco control law. In addition, the tariff rate for complete devices, parts and cartridges was changed.”
Gabriel Yorio González, undersecretary of the Treasury, said that Mexico’s tobacco tax has a special design. “Some countries charge for the volume of tobacco and others for the price. We charge for both. But we would have to raise more, given the cost of smoking damage to health.”
What we do in Animal Político requires professional journalists, teamwork, dialogue with readers and something very important: independence. You can help us keep going. Be part of the team.
Subscribe to Animal Político, receive benefits and support free journalism #YoSoyAnimal.

Original source in Spanish