Government’s ban on entjie sales is working as fewer people are able to get their hands on smokes.
However, smokers also tend to flout social distancing rules, and are more at risk to die of Covid-19.
Two Human Science Research Council (HSRC) surveys showed that 88% of smokers are not able to buy ciggies during the lockdown, suggesting that the ban is reducing cigarette access and use.
The HSRC conducted online surveys with more than 50 000 people between 27 March and 2 April and among 19 330 people from 8 to 24 April.
The survey showed that overall, only 11.8% of smokers were able to buy cigarettes.
Almost a quarter (23.5%) of smokers in informal settlements and 16% of those in townships were able to buy cigarettes.
This was much higher than the corresponding rates for smokers in city (9.9%), suburb (8.2%) and farm (7.3%) communities.
In addition, 72% of people who bought dop also bought entjies, while 26% of people who drank with friends during the lockdown also bought cigarettes.
Worryingly, the percentage of participants who came into close contact with someone outside the home, by shaking hands, hugging or kissing, was significantly higher for those who were able to buy cigarettes during lockdown (26.2%) than those who were not (9.8%).
Over 40% of those who were able to buy cigarettes came into close contact (within two metre distance) with more than 10 people when away from their homes, compared to 26.4% of smokers who did not buy cigarettes.
The data indicated, therefore, that smokers were not practising social distancing.
Over half of smokers reported they live in a household with school-going children.
A third said if self-isolation became necessary, their homes did not have a sufficient space to separate the infected person from the rest of the family.
According to the survey, about 8 million people in South Africa are smokers
“If only 1% of the 8 million smokers were to contract Covid-19, this means 80 000 smokers would be infected.
“If an estimated 5% were to need ICU, this would translate to about 4 000 people needing ICU hospital beds and ventilators.
“Under current calculations, this would exceed the availability of ventilators and place health workers at risk.
“Smokers were more likely to be admitted to intensive care, to need mechanical ventilation, or die, compared to non-smokers,” the HSRC said.