France limits sales of nicotine products after fewer smokers catch coronavirus

Fearing a run on nicotine gum and patches, France has banned the online sale of the products — a move spurred by reports of a lower-than-expected number of smokers among those hospitalized with the coronavirus.

In addition to the online ban, French authorities are limiting people who purchase the smoking cessation products at pharmacies to one month’s supply only, BBC.com reported.

Smokers who do get infected tend to have more serious symptoms; still, a Paris hospital is now testing the theory that nicotine could play some role in blocking infection, the report said.

Patients at the Parisian hospital are being given nicotine patches in the study.