Seropositivity for COVID-19 found to be lesser in smokers, vegetarians: CSIR
India
Published: Monday, January 18, 2021, 11:47 [IST]
New Delhi, Jan 18: Smokers and vegetarians were found to have lower seropositivity indicating that they may be at a lesser risk of getting infected by coronavirus, according to a pan-India serosurvey conducted by the CSIR.
The survey also found that those with blood group O may be less susceptible to the infection. The CSIR took samples of 10,427 adults for the study.
In July last year, the Ministry of Health of the Union reported that smokers were likely to be more vulnerable to Covid-19, as smoking increases the risk of virus transmission from hand to mouth, and cautioned that smoking tobacco products may increase the severity of respiratory infections and render people susceptible to coronavirus.