translated from Spanish: Smoking causes high incidence in Covid-19 deaths

From the Ombudsman’s Office, they reported that smoking and associated diseases are third among the risk factors presented by Covid-19 victims. They also claimed that 18.72% of people who died in Argentina by coronavirus were smokers, ex-smokers, or COPD patients. Walter Martello, the ombudsman of the Bonaerense Deputy People and head of the Addiction Observatory, stated in a statement that the situation of coronavirus in Argentina “has only aggravated the negative impact that, years after year, makes smoking in Argentina.” So, not only are prevention campaigns required to intensify, but also to equip the State with new tools to deal with the new reality,” said the officialIn the province of Buenos Aires, the predominant risk factor among the deceased was 28.37% high blood pressure, followed by 15.33% diabetes and 12.55% the status of ex-smoker or COPD from smoking.” The World Health Organization (WHO) stresses the need for States to adopt policies that, in addition to preventing Covid-19, strengthen the approach to smoking in its various forms,” the Observatory’s statement said.

Original source in Spanish