The US House Oversight Committee asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Wednesday to ban the distribution of e-cigarettes due to the potential impact on the spread of COVID-19.

The letter was signed by Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy. The House Committee had previously contacted the FDA in the summer of 2019 urging the ban of e-cigarettes.

The virus’ main target is the lungs, and those who smoke any substance are at a higher risk of death or serious complications from COVID-19. The Oversight Committee stated, “The FDA has both the authority and an obligation to start enforcing the law against all e-cigarettes in order to protect the public health. Vaping will add to the stress on our hospitals as more people take up intensive care beds and require ventilators and other critical equipment.” The ban could potentially assist nurses and doctors who are already feeling the effects of COVID-19 on the American healthcare system.

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