The UK Government is being urged not to close vape shops in the UK during the COVID-19 outbreak in a bid to stop vapers returning to smoking.
The UK Vaping Industry Association [UKVIA] has written to Westminster and the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments saying given this is a respiratory disease, anyone returning to smoking will increase the risk to themselves and others of catching the virus. France, Spain and Italy has allowed the re-opening of vape shops – despite the lock-down – following advice from pro-vaping health officials. It’s hoped if anymore enforced closures are ordered by the UK Government, vape shops will be exempt.
UKVIA says the vape industry is playing a ‘vital role’ during the crisis and adds:
“Our simple ask of you is to ensure that vape shops in towns and rural areas stay open during the crisis.
We recognise and support the Government’s intensified containment plan for the virus but would urge you and your colleagues to look at the example of Italy.
Dr Riccardo Polosa, a world renowned scientist and researcher on vaping and tobacco harm reduction and founder of the Centre of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, successfully argued that due to the stress caused by the Coronavirus, with the closure of vape shops vapers were highly likely to go back to smoking cigarettes to maintain their nicotine needs.
This could be dangerous from a public health perspective and could heighten the risk of exposure of tobacco smoke to bystanders.
This could also place a further burden on an already overstretched health system.”
As for support for the vaping industry and small businesses during these unprecedented times it says:
“In addition to keeping vape shops open for business we would particularly like to understand what types of support will be available for our members who are manufacturers, compliance specialists, vape store owners and online retailers.
Many are small to medium sized operations, and both during and post this crisis we want to ensure that they are still able to provide a service to the three million plus vapers in the UK, including those in self isolation and people living in remote areas.”
Article Origin：
Neil Humber. Keep Vape Shops Open In the UK During COVID-19 Crisis Says UKVIA. ECigClick, 22 March 2020 Keep Vape Shops Open During COVID-19 Crisis| Ecigclick
The UK Vaping Industry Association [UKVIA] has written to Westminster and the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments saying given this is a respiratory disease, anyone returning to smoking will increase the risk to themselves and others of catching the virus. France, Spain and Italy has allowed the re-opening of vape shops – despite the lock-down – following advice from pro-vaping health officials. It’s hoped if anymore enforced closures are ordered by the UK Government, vape shops will be exempt.
UKVIA says the vape industry is playing a ‘vital role’ during the crisis and adds:
“Our simple ask of you is to ensure that vape shops in towns and rural areas stay open during the crisis.
We recognise and support the Government’s intensified containment plan for the virus but would urge you and your colleagues to look at the example of Italy.
Dr Riccardo Polosa, a world renowned scientist and researcher on vaping and tobacco harm reduction and founder of the Centre of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, successfully argued that due to the stress caused by the Coronavirus, with the closure of vape shops vapers were highly likely to go back to smoking cigarettes to maintain their nicotine needs.
This could be dangerous from a public health perspective and could heighten the risk of exposure of tobacco smoke to bystanders.
This could also place a further burden on an already overstretched health system.”
As for support for the vaping industry and small businesses during these unprecedented times it says:
“In addition to keeping vape shops open for business we would particularly like to understand what types of support will be available for our members who are manufacturers, compliance specialists, vape store owners and online retailers.
Many are small to medium sized operations, and both during and post this crisis we want to ensure that they are still able to provide a service to the three million plus vapers in the UK, including those in self isolation and people living in remote areas.”
Article Origin：
Neil Humber. Keep Vape Shops Open In the UK During COVID-19 Crisis Says UKVIA. ECigClick, 22 March 2020 Keep Vape Shops Open During COVID-19 Crisis| Ecigclick
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