Ban designated smoking areas in public places to curb Covid spread: Experts By IANS | Published on Mon, Mar 15 2021 20:03 IST | 3 Views 5 Dangers of Smoking while Pregnant.. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, March 15 : With preventive healthcare taking the centre stage in the fight against coronavirus, citizens, scientists and politicians have called for abolishment of designated smoking areas (DSAs) in public places like hotels, airports and restaurants, which are not only a health threat to passive smokers, but also likely hotspots of virus transmission in the absence of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour. While calling for a ban on such designated smoking spaces in the country, Raman Gangakhedkar, the C.G. Pandit National Chair at ICMR, said, "It has been seen that no safe distance norms are followed in these zones which are usually like smoke-filled chambers where people take off their masks and follow no social distancing norms. Hence, there are chances that the virus may remain airborne for a long period while smokers come and go, adding to the risk of transmission."