View Comments
Experts suggest that losing your sense of smell and taste could be a symptom of the coronavirus, according to The New York Times.
What’s going on:
- Claire Hopkins, president of the British Rhinological Society, told The New York Times that losing your sense of smell might be a major sign you have COVID-19.
- Hopkins said: “We really want to raise awareness that this is a sign of infection and that anyone who develops loss of sense of smell should self-isolate. It could contribute to slowing transmission and save lives.”
- Hopkins and Nirmal Kumar, president of ENT UK, which represents ear, nose and throat doctors, issued a statement that called for health care workers to use equipment when dealing with people who have lost their sense of smell, too.
An example
- Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tweeted Sunday he felt like he lost his sense of taste and smell because of the virus.
- He tweeted: Just to give you guys an update, loss of smell and taste is definitely one of the symptoms, haven’t been able to smell anything for the last 4 days. Anyone experiencing the same thing?
More research:
- The American Academy of Otolaryngology posted information that suggested the loss of smell and taste and possible symptoms, too.
- The AAO said: “Anecdotal evidence is rapidly accumulating from sites around the world that anosmia and dysgeusia are significant symptoms associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Anosmia, in particular, has been seen in patients ultimately testing positive for the coronavirus with no other symptoms.”
- The AAO proposed these symptoms to be added to list of possibly symptoms of those with the coronavirus, too.”