Researchers from the University of California have published a study in the journal of International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology showing that if you have smell and taste loss, you are more than 10 times more likely to have COVID-19 infection than other causes of infection.
“The most common first sign of a COVID-19 infection remains fever, but fatigue and loss of smell and taste follow as other very common initial symptoms,” said Carol Yan, MD, an otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at UC San Diego Health.
“We know COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus.This study supports the need to be aware of smell and taste loss as early signs of COVID-19.”
The good news is the researchers also found that the rate of recovery of smell and taste was high and occurred usually within two to four weeks of infection.