Monday, the Ministry of Health started implementing a strict anti-smoking control campaign, coinciding with the beginning of reopening sectors to ensure the implementation of public safety measures, while providing a smoke-free environment in public spaces.

This also comes as a part of governmental measures and decisions taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Smokers must adhere to smoking in the allocated smoking areas in public.

The Assistant Secretary-General for Primary Health Care at the ministry, Ghazi Sharkas, indicated that the campaign came to play an oversight role with the aim of enforcing Public Health Law No. 47 of 2008 and its amendments, which dictated a strict no-smoking rule in public places and went into effect in 2008.

This legislation prohibits smoking in all its forms in public and closed places with no exception, coinciding with the government's orientation to the stage of expansion by reopening sectors, while also allowing the provision of hookah services in cafes within the set health requirements.

The Ministry of Health, represented by the Directorate of Health Awareness and Information, adopts governmental direction calling for the fight against smoking, and works to implement laws and legislation on combating smoking, while supervising liaison officers working in the field, who carry out continuous inspection tours of health and public institutions.

The Directorate of Health Awareness and Information is the main authority in launching national media campaigns aimed at educating citizens about the harms of smoking, and it is a key directorate within the Primary Health Care Department, as the campaign will be based on the principle of firmness in implementing violations.

Inspectors have the power to enforce the law, according to the ministry.