Quit for Covid
Coronavirus and smoking
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection, it affects the lungs and airways. Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to protect yourself and others, and reduce the impact on NHS services.
Reasons to quit:
- The damage that smoking causes to your lungs and immune system makes it more likely that you will have complications if you get sick and it will take longer to recover.
- Smoking of any kind, not just cigarettes, but shisha, cannabis or any other substances will also increase your risks.
- Secondhand smoke in the home and in other enclosed spaces also poses a risk. Children and those with existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable and, if you are a smoker, you should take every effort to protect them from exposure.
- Smokers are also much more likely to get other health problems at a time when the NHS is under strain from COVID-19.
Local support
If you’re trying to quit, you don’t have to go it alone, local support is here to help you. Covid-secure, tailored advice and support from trained advisors in our Wellbeing teams, GP surgeries and pharmacies is available over the telephone. Please check with your local general practice or pharmacy whether they are currently offering this service. If not, our Wellbeing teams are ready to support you and can be contacted on the numbers below:
Adur & Worthing Wellbeing: 01903 221450
Arun Wellbeing: 01903 737862
Chichester Wellbeing: 01243 521041
Crawley Wellbeing: 01293 585317
Horsham Wellbeing: 01403 215111
Mid Sussex Wellbeing: 01444 477191
For more information about quitting, visit our Smoking pages where you can find all the tools and support you need.