New Delhi: In a first of its kind decision in India, Delhi on Tuesday banned use of hookahs including herbal ones in all public places to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Citing the World health Organization (WHO) evidence which prompted that tobacco use was a major risk factor for coronavirus transmission, the Delhi government notified the ban invoking powers under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897.
“Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 as the act of smoking means that fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) are in contact with lips which increases the possibility of transmission of virus from hand to mouth. Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity which would greatly increase risk of serious illness. Smoking products such as water pipes often involve the sharing of mouth pieces and hoses, which could facilitate the transmission of COVID-19 in communal and social settings,” the Delhi government order read.
The use of hookahs is strictly prohibited with immediate effect at all public places including hotels, restaurants, eatery houses, bars, pubs and discotheques of the NCT of Delhi.
