Losing your sense of smell and taste may be a sign you’ve contracted Covid-19.
Anosmia, the loss of sense of smell, may be an early indicator that an individual has coronavirus, according to The New York Times. Ageusia, a diminished sense of taste, also tends to accompany the loss of smell. Individuals who notice this symptom are being asked by some experts to isolate themselves for seven days.
“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,” Prof. Claire Hopkins, president of the British Rhinological Society, wrote in an email to the Times. “It could contribute to slowing transmission and save lives.”
Other symptoms of the virus include fever, tiredness, a dry cough and, in severe cases, difficulty breathing.