Britain adds loss of taste, smell to list of symptoms
UK government on Monday included the loss of taste and smell to the core symptoms of Covid-19 after a large number of people and ENT specialists reported these symptoms.
Updating the symptoms list means such individuals would now be eligible for a test.
As of Sunday evening, 34,636 deaths and 243,303 cases were registered across the UK, retaining it on the top of a grim list in Europe.
The number of deaths in a day was the lowest at 170, as some lockdown curbs were eased in England.
Health officials advised Britons that from Monday, all individuals should self-isolate if they develop a continuous cough or fever or ‘anosmia’, the medical term for the loss of or a change in the normal sense of smell; it can also affect one’s sense of taste as the two are closely linked.
Four chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland jointly said,
“We have been closely monitoring the emerging data and evidence on Covid-19 and, after thorough consideration, we are now confident enough to recommend this new measure.
“The individual’s households should also self-isolate for 14 days.”
According to Tim Spector, head of the department of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, there are 50,000 to 70,000 people with the coronavirus who are not being told to self-isolate, because so far only high body temperature and cough had been considered as major symptoms.
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