Gilbert (not his real name) was just 17 when he started smoking. By the time he was in his early 20s, he was smoking five to six packets of cigarettes a day.

The sales executive tried to quit smoking but found it tough. He finally managed to kick the habit last year at the age of 35, mainly due to the fear of contracting Covid-19. Knowing that smokers faced a higher risk of developing complications in the event of an infection, Gilbert started by cutting down on the number of cigarettes he smoked daily and before the year ended, he got rid of the habit.

“I saw many cases of healthy people contracting Covid-19 and ending up in the ICU (intensive care unit). Even though they were non-smokers, they were classified as category four and five patients.

"Since smoking can affect the respiratory system, I realised...