"COVID-19 High-Risk Group Expanded to Include 'Smokers'... Potential for Reduced Lung Function" (Update)

Image source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The quarantine authorities have added smokers to the high-risk group for COVID-19.

At a regular briefing on the afternoon of the 4th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, said, "We have revised the related guidelines to include smokers in the high-risk group and decided to strengthen management accordingly."

Deputy Head Kwon explained, "After reviewing the latest global literature and recommendations from various countries and consulting with experts, it is highly likely that smokers experience decreased lung function. The U.S. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines currently classify smokers as a high-risk group, so we added smokers to the guidelines to maximize the management of high-risk groups."

Additionally, as of midnight on the 3rd, the quarantine authorities expanded the scope of contact investigation in the related guidelines from one day before symptom onset to two days before. Deputy Head Kwon stated, "We revised the guidelines to more closely trace the possibility of transmission before symptom onset."