Legal counsel for government has told the High Court in Cape Town that the number of smokers across the country have decreased from 8 million people by nearly 50 percent due to the tobacco ban imposed during the lockdown.
The State is submitting arguments in the urgent application brought by
British American Tobacco South Africa, to challenge government's ban on tobacco.
The ban was imposed in March this year.
BATSA's legal team says government's argument, which they say stat es that a ban on tobacco will help make more hospital beds available for COVID-19 patients is not based on any scientific evidence.
They argue that there is currently no data available to prove that a ban on tobacco will help ease the pressure on hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government however argues that the number of patients who are smokers and who develop severe COVID-19 symptoms have stayed low because of the ban.
The matter is set down for two days and is being heard by a full bench.
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