Ahmedabad Tackles COVID-19 By Banning Smokeless

We’re now NINE months into this global pandemic and sadly, COVID-19 shows no signs of slowing down. I ran across this article this morning from the World Health Organization:

Ahmedabad tackles COVID-19 transmission with ban on smokeless tobacco products and spitting in public

See original article: https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/ahmedabad-tackles-covid-19-transmission-with-ban-on-smokeless-tobacco-products-and-spitting-in-public

Ahmedabad, the largest city in India’s western state of Gujarat, made the decision to close stores selling paan and other chewing tobacco earlier this year.

For those of you not familiar with the term:

Paan is a preparation combining betel leaf with areca nut widely consumed throughout Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Asia. It is chewed for its stimulant effects. After chewing, it is either spat out or swallowed. Paan has many variations. Slaked lime paste is commonly added to bind the leaves. (Wikipedia)

According to the article: “Under the Disaster Management Act, Gujarat Chief Secretary Anil Mukim introduced a ban on spitting on roads and in public places. The action was punishable by fine of 500 rupees and once the new order was implemented by the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC), it resulted in 1244 persons fined on the very first day of enforcement.”

Stay safe out there quitters… we’ll get through this together.