A group of British doctors think so, and they want the loss of smell to be added to governments' lists of symptoms that trigger quarantines. In a statement released on Friday , the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology and British Rhinological Society said that anosmia and hyposmia β two conditions related to the loss of ability to detect odours β have been detected in many COVID patients around the world. Miryam Carecchio, an Italian neurologist, is one of those patients. She took one day off work, and then returned because she was feeling better.
In South Korea, where tests were carried out even on those showing no signs of illness, loss of smell was reportedly found in 30 per cent of cases where patients tested positive but only showed mild symptoms. Claire Hopkins, the president of the British Rhinological Society, said in the statement that she saw four patients this week who had lost their sense of smell but otherwise showed no symptoms of the virus. Under normal circumstances, she might see one patient a month in this condition.
While this evidence is not yet backed by peer-reviewed studies, the doctors suggest it points to a need to direct anyone who loses their sense of smell to self-isolate.
There is the potential to reduce COVID transmission by requesting that individuals with new onset of anosmia self-isolate. Full coverage at CTVNews. Trudeau says Parliament will resume Tuesday to pass emergency measures. Canada not sending athletes to Tokyo Olympics unless Games postponed. New York quiets as it becomes next virus hot spot.
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