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Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday called on all Union states and territories to ban the sale of tobacco products and spit in public to control the spread of the coronavirus disease.
The appeal comes after the Rajasthan and Jharkhand governments issued orders in this regard to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection.
In a letter to all state health ministers, Vardhan said that smokeless tobacco users tend to spit in public places, increasing health risks, especially those of spreading communicable diseases like Covid-19, tuberculosis, swine flu, encephalitis and others.
“The use of smokeless tobacco also creates an unsanitary environment that further spreads disease. Large gatherings at retail outlets where smokeless tobacco products are sold also present the risk of Covid spreading, ”PTI was quoted as saying.
In the May 11 letter, the Union minister stressed that tobacco use is a major threat to public health worldwide. He also mentioned the call of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to the public not to consume and spit smokeless tobacco products in public places.
Chewing tobacco and areca nut products increases saliva production, followed by a strong need to spit. Spitting in public places could improve the spread of Covid-19, Vardhan said.
“By prohibiting spitting in public places, states and TUs can help achieve not only Swachh Bharat but also Swasth Bharat (Clean India and Healthy India),” he said.
Vardhan also mentioned the May 1 guidelines issued by the Union Interior Ministry under the National Disaster Management Act, 2005, which stipulate that “spitting in public places will be punishable by a fine as prescribed by the state authority / Local UT and the consumption of liquor, bread, gutkha, tobacco, etc. in public places is not allowed. ”
Appreciating the efforts made by Rajasthan and Jharkhand in this direction, the health minister urged all states to take similar steps and create widespread awareness of the harm of spitting in public places.
The Rajasthan government had by ordinance banned the spinning in public places and the sale of paan, gutka and tobacco in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The Jharkhand has also imposed a complete ban on all types of tobacco products to avoid spitting in public places that could increase the spread of coronavirus infection.
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