Ireland has become the latest country to ban the sale of menthol flavoured cigarettes and tobacco products.
According to the Irish Department of Health, the ban will come into effect on Wednesday.
The Minister of Health Simon Harris says the purpose of the ban is to ensure that cigarettes and tobacco products for sale can no longer include ingredients that would make smoking more palatable or make it easier for people to start smoking by masking the taste of tobacco.
According to the minister, the World Health Organization said earlier this month that a review of studies by public health experts found that smokers are more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19 compared to non-smokers.
Menthol cigarettes will be banned throughout the United Kingdom.
The review also warned that tobacco is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases and these conditions increase the risk of developing severe illness when affected by COVID-19.
Other countries who have banned the sale of menthol cigarettes include Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, Turkey, and the European Union.
(Xinhua)
