Coronavirus in South Africa: Smokers Excited by Cigarette Ban
If earlier Michelle could go to her local store in the commercial center of South Africa in Johannesburg to buy cigarettes, now she has to make a secret deal.The 29-year-old economist finds sellers through contacts in WhatsApp groups and organizes a hidden meeting to get her nicotine fix.
This will be mitigated from June 1, when people can buy alcohol to drink at home and only in strict conditions on certain days and for limited hours, according to President Cyril Ramafosa.
However, he said the ban on cigarette sales will remain due to health risks associated with smoking.
Cigarette sellers can distribute coronavirus
The government has justified a health ban on tobacco based on recommendations from its own medical experts, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO).WHO has stated that although studies are still ongoing, there is reason to believe that smokers will suffer more than non-smokers if they become infected with Covid-19.
According to the young specialist, the seller of the black market is the one who has potentially touched many other people trying to sell their cigarettes.
Over half a million people have added their names to an online petition calling on the government to change their minds.
We did not provide any scientific evidence in support of the tobacco ban, wrote Bev Macklin, who began the petition.
Due to the fact that legitimate sales of tobacco products are prohibited, consumers turn to the illegal market and pay high prices mainly for illegal cigarettes that do not pay taxes to the government.
Smoking less indoors
Along with SAMRC, the South African Cancer Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation in South Africa, as well as many other health authorities, support the ban.
And it seems that some people used this time to try to quit smoking.
According to Savera Kalidin, executive director of the National Council against Smoking, we have doubled the number of calls that we usually receive on our Quitline.
Support requests have also increased to join our WhatsApp group, which provides 30-day support, tips, and messages for smokers who want to quit smoking.
Michel does not give up but is cut down.
Strange, I smoke a lot less than before blocking.
Now I have an average of two cigarettes a day, while the average was six or seven. It was not an informed choice of health, she said.
I think this is mainly because I work from home, so some of my usual activities, smoking on the way to and from work, and also at work, were disrupted.