LEE COUNTY, Fla. - A smoking ban begins today across Lee Memorial Health System.

As of November 19th, all forms of tobacco, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco like chewing products and dip are prohibited on all properties owned and leased by Lee Memorial Health System.

During this year’s Great American Smokeout, many other local employers went tobacco free in order to promote a healthier environment, including Lehigh Regional Medical Center, Physicians Regional Healthcare System and NCH Healthcare System. All hospitals in Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties are now completely tobacco free.

Lee Memorial Health System also joined more than 1,082 U.S. hospitals and health systems that have also decided to go tobacco free at their facilities. More than 70 other Florida hospitals and health systems have already gone tobacco free, including Charlotte Regional Medical Center, Moffitt Cancer Center, Baptist Hospital of Miami, all Orlando area hospitals and Baptist Health in Jacksonville.