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INTRODUCTION: We aimed to investigate the relationship between smoking and the general characteristics, symptoms and clinical course of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were followed-up in the COVID ward in the first 2 months of the pandemic. METHODS: Patients over the age of 18 and diagnosed with COVID-19 were included retrospectively. The demographic data, symptoms, comorbidities of the patients, tobacco and tobacco-product use, disease severity, the patient's follow-up status in the ward or intensive care unit and the need for supportive treatment, and the relationship between tobacco-use and disease severity were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 224 patients, 40.6% of whom were female, with a mean age of 57 years were included in the study. 32.6% of the patients were active smokers, 27.6% were quit-smoking, 13.4% passive-smokers and 26.3% never-smoked. Of the patients (n = 62) who quit smoking, 17 (27.4%) patients were quit smoking during the pandemic. The highest smoking rate was found in patients between the ages of 18-49 (44.7%). Dyspnea (45.2%), loss of smelling (31.5%), inability to taste (21.9%), chills-and-shivering (16.9%) were statistically higher in patients with active-smoking. Comparing the need for supportive treatments during the follow-up of the patients, the use of oxygen therapy was found to be significantly higher in patients with active-smoking and quit-tobacco use, while other supportive treatments were similar. When the rates of smoking status and death of the patients were compared, a proportionally higher mortality rate was found in active-tobacco users, but there was no significant difference. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: While no significant difference on the effect of tobacco use on disease severity and mortality in our study, it is observed that the symptom of shortness of breath was higher in smokers in COVID-19 patients. Additionally, the need for oxygen treatment may increase significantly due to tobacco use in their life span.