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As living with the coronavirus becomes the new normal for communities all over the world, artists like Yayoi Kusama and Mo Willems have stepped forward to offer ways to self-soothe or stay entertained while practicing social distancing. Now, David Hockney, one of the most famous and successful living painters in the world, has added his voice to the conversation via a letter he sent to the Daily Mail. Controversially, Hockney is of the opinion that smoking cigarettes could provide people with a defense against the coronavirus, a stance that he backs up by citing data from the outbreak in China that points to fewer smokers being admitted to the hospitalfor COVID-19 treatment.

Smokers have developed an immune system to this virus, Hockney wrote. With all these figures coming out, its beginning to look like that to me. Im serious. Additionally, the artist weighed in on his own mortality. Ive smoked for more than 60 years, but I think Im quite healthy, Hockney added. How much longer do I have? Im going to die of either a smoking-related illness or a non-smoking-related illness, Hockney wrote. While this particular flavor of contemplative nihilism is certainly entertaining coming from one of the most celebrated artists in the world, Hockneys theory that smokers are less likely to get the coronavirus is problematic at best and dangerous at worst.

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The World Health Organization writes that smokers are in fact more likely to be vulnerable to COVID-19, due to the fact that potentially contaminated fingers and cigarettes are coming into frequent contact with a persons open mouth when they smoke. Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity, which would greatly increase risk of serious illness, WHO continues. Additionally, although its clear that more research is warranted, recent studies are beginning to trickle out which indicate that smoking is likely associated with the negative progression and adverse outcomes of COVID-19.

Its possible Hockney swiped his theory from rumors that nicotine has the ability to downregulate the enzyme that binds COVID-19 to humans, which has been getting a decent amount of circulation on Twitter. Its a theory that has little to no scientific basis, particularly in the face of the mounting evidence that smoking increases the risk of COVID-19 symptoms growing more severe. Right now, its important to practice common sense and remember that cigarettes have been proven to be really, really bad for you. Until the world knows enough about coronavirus in order to develop a vaccine, its probably best to assume that smoking wont save you.

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David Hockney Says Smokers Have Developed an Immune System Against Coronavirus - Observer

This entry was posted on April 17, 2020 at 2:42 am and is filed under Immune System. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |