In the light of the outbreak of Covid-19 in the community, I feel strongly that we should ban smoking while walking. 

Why must smokers be accorded special privilege to do so? 

Likewise for those who hold food or a drink with their masks down — some could simply be pretending to eat or drink, so that they have a reason to pull down their masks.

As for smokers who light up on the move, they not only pollute the air with cigarette smoke but potentially put others nearby at risk. 

We are now on heightened alert, so we should take all the necessary steps to curb possible coronavirus transmission. 

I live in Yishun and see many such smokers puffing away towards Northpoint City shopping centre. 

These smokers should be confined to designated smoking areas, similar to those in Orchard Road, while staying 1m apart as a precaution against Covid-19.

Perhaps smoking zones could be created every 500m in housing estates islandwide, using existing bins as markers. 

When Madam Lee Bee Wah was the Member of Parliament for Nee Soon South, her ward built smoking points for smokers. Initiatives such as these will greatly protect citizens during this time of heightened safety measures. 

The provision of such zones could minimise the odds of spreading Covid-19.

They will also prevent smokers from flipping cigarette ash everywhere and littering the ground with cigarette butts. 

This way, non-smokers can steer clear of secondhand smoke by avoiding those zones as well. 

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