Efficacy of Nicotine in Preventing COVID-19 Infection (NICOVID-PREV)
Daily active smokers are infrequent among outpatients or hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Several arguments suggest that nicotine is responsible for this protective effect via the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR).
Nicotine may inhibit the penetration and spread of the virus and have a prophylactic effect in COVID-19 infection.
You don't have to smoke it, just can use a lozenge.
Makes you kind of think of why there was a strong push from commercials in the last decade. Funding came from somewhere.