The French Health Ministry has issued a restriction on nicotine substitutes after a new survey suggested nicotine might offer protection against coronavirus, reports Reuters.

Researchers at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris had released a study that showed nicotine could prevent the virus from entering cells, leading to fears of a run on nicotine substitute products such as nicotine patches.
Under the restriction, pharmacies are not allowed to sell more than a month’s worth of nicotine substitute products to customers. The main aim is to avoid a shortage of the products for patients who rely on them and also to prevent misuse or overuse, according to Reuters. Online sales have also been suspended under the decree.
“A team of French researchers has written an interesting scientific article which tends to show that there are fewer patients in the population consuming nicotine — and therefore smokers — than in the rest of population. But beware, this does not mean that tobacco protects. Tobacco kills”, said French health minister Olivier Veran about the study.
The restrictions are in place until May 11 when France is planning to ease up on lockdown measures.