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Against the background of the corona pandemic, the Federal Government's Drugs Commissioner has urged smokers to limit their consumption.
"Various studies show that smokers have a much higher risk of a severe course of Covid-19 than non-smokers," Daniela Ludwig (CSU) told the newspapers of the Funke media group on Monday.
So it is "high time to stop".
The virus is also one more reason to promote support for long-term smokers in the coming year, said Ludwig.
Above all, those who “could not yet be reached with the offers to quit smoking” should be looked at.
According to Ludwig's information, around 23 percent of adults in Germany currently smoke, i.e. over 14 million people.
Around 120,000 people each die as a result of tobacco consumption.
Ludwig rated the falling number of smokers among adolescents and young adults as a positive development.
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Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz expects a third corona wave and a massive increase in the number of infections across Europe in the coming year.
In the summer, a certain return to normality can be expected, said Kurz in an interview with ORF on Saturday.
"The first quarter of 2021 will certainly be an extreme challenge for Europe, the third wave will break in on us, and the number of infections will again increase massively in many European countries," said Kurz.
“After that, I assume that there will be constant relaxation due to the warmer temperatures, but also due to the steadily increasing number of those who are vaccinated.
And I expect that we will be able to return to normal in large parts in the summer. "
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