The Maharashtra Government following the letter from Union Health Ministry has prohibited spitting in public.
According to health experts, spitting can cause the spread of COVID-19 because the saliva of a person who is infected can carry the virus for more than 24 hours. Health experts also demand the Maharashtra Government to put an end to all tobacco products, areca nuts and paan masalas amid the corona pandemic.
Union Health Ministry in its letter mentioned that Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has appealed to the general public not to consume and spit smokeless tobacco in public. Chewing smokeless tobacco products, paan masala and areca nut (supari) increases the production of saliva followed by a very strong urge to spit. Spitting in public places could enhance the spread of COVID-19 virus.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs, in the guidelines for lockdown under the Disaster Management Act has asked all District Heads, Municipal Corporations to ban sale of alcohol, tobacco and gutka and prohibits spitting in public places.
The Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation has already imposed a fine of Rs.1000 for spitting in public.
According to Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Deputy Director, Tata Memorial Hospital and VoTV Founder, “The Maharashtra Government prohibiting spitting in public places will certainly play important role in prevention of COVID-19.” He said in the current situation of corona pandemic, if a corona infected person spits tobacco or even the saliva, there is possibility of spreading of infection within 24-72 hours, which could prove dangerous to the people. It is not only for corona, but can spread other contagious diseases such as tuberculosis.
It is to be mentioned that 24.4% of all adults (aged 15+) in Maharashtra currently use smokeless tobacco including 35.5% men and 17% women as per GATS-2 data.
Dr Pranav Ingole, Oncologist appeals to the Government that it is the right time to ban tobacco, pan masala and arecanut in the interest of public health. If people do not consume such products, their urge to spit in public places is also reduced. He once again requested the Chief Minister to totally ban the production, storage and selling of all tobacco products, so that diseases and untimely deaths caused due to its consumption could be stopped and infection can be controlled.
Appreciating the Government, Ashish Supase, Alamelu Charitable Foundation (Tata Trusts) said that the Maharashtra Government has prohibited spitting in public places and it has to be effectively implemented across the state. This step will certainly help in containing the spread of corona infection because spitting in public places enhances the spread of COVID-19.
Apart from Maharashtra, States like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Ropar (Punjab), Gujarat, Telangana, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Haryana, Nagaland, Assam and Union Territory Chandigarh have also prohibited use of smokeless tobacco and spitting in public places.