You cannot choke in public places because everybody will panic
Nobody would have cared if you coughed like you were dying in public a year ago, but now, even a small cough may make everyone stare in dread and slowly back away as if you were some kind of zombie.
If you are in public, even a little tickling in your throat is the worst thing that can happen to you. It especially sucks for people who suffer from allergies. A cough can be choked down, but sometimes a sneeze is not possible to avoid.