4:38 The Northeast garnered mixed reviews in the American Lung Association’s annual “State of Tobacco Control” report out Wednesday. The 19th edition of the report grades all 50 states on their tobacco control efforts, from smoke-free workplace laws to tobacco taxes and prevention programs. Director of National Policy Thomas Carr says while smoking is on the decline, it remains the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., killing 480,000 people a year. “COVID-19 is certainly taking a lot of attention in terms of public health right now — and for good reason, of course. But it’s important to keep in mind that tobacco use and secondhand smoke are still leading public health threats. And then also, smoking is linked to COVID-19 as well," Carr explains. "States need to keep their eye on the ball to make sure that all public health threats are still tackled.”